Single-cell analyses and host genetics highlight the role of innate immune cells in COVID-19 severity

Japan COVID-19 Task Force

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mechanisms underpinning the dysfunctional immune response in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection are elusive. We analyzed single-cell transcriptomes and T and B cell receptors (BCR) of >895,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 73 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and 75 healthy controls of Japanese ancestry with host genetic data. COVID-19 patients showed a low fraction of nonclassical monocytes (ncMono). We report downregulated cell transitions from classical monocytes to ncMono in COVID-19 with reduced CXCL10 expression in ncMono in severe disease. Cell–cell communication analysis inferred decreased cellular interactions involving ncMono in severe COVID-19. Clonal expansions of BCR were evident in the plasmablasts of patients. Putative disease genes identified by COVID-19 genome-wide association study showed cell type-specific expressions in monocytes and dendritic cells. A COVID-19-associated risk variant at the IFNAR2 locus (rs13050728) had context-specific and monocyte-specific expression quantitative trait loci effects. Our study highlights biological and host genetic involvement of innate immune cells in COVID-19 severity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)753-767
Number of pages15
JournalNature Genetics
Volume55
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 05-2023
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Genetics

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