Decreased levels of lymphocytes, or lymphopenia, is a key indicator of severe COVID-19. While T cell and NK cell levels have been found to be significantly reduced, B cell count remains within a normal range. Because lymphopenia is so distinctive of COVID-19, it has been proposed as a tool to measure both the severity of COVID-19 and the prognosis of the patient. 

Lymphopenia 

Studies have shown that T cells are very active in response to SARS-CoV-2. As a result, patients with COVID-19 can show evidence of T cell exhaustion. In severe cases, apoptosis in CD8+ T cells is unusually frequent, also reducing functional diversity. 

Lymphocyte Activation and Dysfunction 


The relative number of neutrophils compared to lymphocytes is much higher in severe cases of COVID-19 than in non-severe cases. However, there is a decreased percentage of eosinophils (indicates parasitic infections), basophils (indicates allergic reactions), and monocytes in severe patients. A low monocyte count makes it difficult to fight off viral infections, and neutrophils aid in bacterial infections, not viral.

Abnormalities of Granulocytes and Monocytes 

While IgM and IgG are both SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, the level of IgG is more closely correlated with the severity of the disease and therefore can be used to evaluate severity and prognosis. However, a quicker test can be done on the total antibody level, in which higher levels are indicative of worse patient outcomes.

Increased Antibodies

Even though SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infection is initiated by similar innate and adaptive immune responses, there is no strong evidence that would indicate that lymphopenia, lymphocyte dysfunction, and granulocyte and monocyte abnormalities are associated with SARS-CoV, therefore making these abnormalities unique to SARS-CoV-2. 


Comparison with SARS-CoV-induced Immunopathology 


Severe cases of COVID-19 tend to exhibit a “cytokine storm”, which is an extreme increase in certain inflammatory cytokines. While patients with non-severe COVID-19 have an upregulated level of some of the same cytokines, the amount and diversity of cytokines are much less than that of severe cases. 

Increased Production of Cytokines in COVID-19 Patients 

Patients with severe COVID-19 are known to exhibit uncontrolled pro-inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2. As a result, these patients have lymphopenia, lymphocyte activation and dysfunction, granulocyte and monocyte abnormalities, high cytokine levels, and elevated immunoglobulin G and total antibodies. 

Smith College

The immune response of the host to SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in disease pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. SARS-CoV-2 activates antiviral immune responses and uncontrolled inflammatory responses. In order to manage the disease and develop treatments, we must first understand the mechanisms underlying this immune response. 

Immunopathogenesis and Immunotherapeutics 

Yang, Li, et al. “COVID-19: Immunopathogenesis and Immunotherapeutics.” Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, vol. 5, no. 1, 2020, doi:10.1038/s41392-020-00243-2.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-020-00243-2

COVID-19: Immunopathogenesis and Immunotherapeutics

The Immunopathology of COVID-19

Antivirals, glucocorticoids, and immunoglobulin treatments have not proven to significantly improve the clinical outcome of COVID-19, therefore targeting specific aspects of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 may be more effective. Enhancing lymphocytes with strategies such as NK cell-based therapy; immunomodulators; and convalescent plasma therapy, and inhibiting inflammation using strategies such as mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy; regulatory T cell-based therapy; blood purification; blocking IL-6 signalling; and Janus kinase inhibitors should be explored. 

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