Comparing the immune abnormalities in MIS-C to healthy children and those with inflammatory disease reveals distinct inflammatory cytokine production and a monofunctional T cell response

In this study, we measured inflammatory cytokine concentration and SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral immunity and T cell responses in children with fever and suspected MIS-C at presentation (n = 83) where MIS-C was ultimately confirmed (n = 58) or another diagnosis was made (n = 25) and healthy children (n = 91). Children with confirmed MIS-C exhibited distinctly elevated serum IL-10, IL-6, and CRP at presentation. No differences were detected in SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG serum concentration, neutralisation capacity, antibody dependant cellular phagocytosis, antibody dependant cellular cytotoxicity or SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell frequency between the groups. Healthy SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children had a higher proportion of polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells compared to children with MIS-C and those with other inflammatory or infectious diagnoses, who both presented a largely monofunctional SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell profile. Treatment with steroids and/or intravenous immunoglobulins resulted in rapid reduction of inflammatory cytokines but did not affect the SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG or CD4+ T cell responses in MIS-C. In these data, MIS-C had a unique cytokine profile but not a unique SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral or T cell cytokine response.PMID:38141746 | DOI:10.1016/j.clim.2023.109877

Source: Clinical Immunology - December 23, 2023 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Claire Butters Ntombi Benede Thandeka Moyo-Gwete Simone I Richardson Ursula Rohlwink Muki Shey Frances Ayres Nelia P Manamela Zanele Makhado Sashkia R Balla Mashudu Madzivhandila Amkele Ngomti Richard Baguma Heidi Facey-Thomas Timothy F Spracklen Jonathan Source Type: research