❦ Lymphopenia, particularly when restricted to the T-cell compartment, has been described as one of the major clinical hallmarks in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and proposed as an indicator of disease severity.

Although several mechanisms fostering COVID-19-related lymphopenia have been described, including cell apoptosis and tissue homing, the underlying causes of the decline in T-cell count and function are still not completely understood.

Patients with COVID-19 had reduced thymic function that was inversely associated with the severity of the disease.

Our data demonstrate that the human thymus is a target of SARS-CoV-2 and thymic function is altered following infection.

Note: Lymphopenia (also called lymphocytopenia) is a disorder in which your blood doesn't have enough white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes play a protective role in your immune system.

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📖 (7 Feb 2023 ~ Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) SARS-CoV-2 infection of thymus induces loss of function that correlates with disease severity ➤

© 2023 Rosichini et al / Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.