Emergence of dysfunctional neutrophils with a defect in arginase-1 release in severe COVID-19
Amrita Dwivedi, Aisling Ui Mhaonaigh, Makala Carroll, Bahareh Khosravi, Isabella Batten, Robert Seán Ballantine, Stuart Hendricken Phelan, Laura O’Doherty, Angel Mary George, Jacklyn Sui, Heike C. Hawerkamp, Padraic G. Fallon, Elnè Noppe, Sabina Mason, Niall Conlon, Clíona Ni Cheallaigh, Conor M. Finlay, Mark A. Little, Bioresource on behalf of the St James’s and Tallaght Trinity Allied Researchers (STTAR)
Amrita Dwivedi, Aisling Ui Mhaonaigh, Makala Carroll, Bahareh Khosravi, Isabella Batten, Robert Seán Ballantine, Stuart Hendricken Phelan, Laura O’Doherty, Angel Mary George, Jacklyn Sui, Heike C. Hawerkamp, Padraic G. Fallon, Elnè Noppe, Sabina Mason, Niall Conlon, Clíona Ni Cheallaigh, Conor M. Finlay, Mark A. Little, Bioresource on behalf of the St James’s and Tallaght Trinity Allied Researchers (STTAR)
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Research Article COVID-19 Immunology

Emergence of dysfunctional neutrophils with a defect in arginase-1 release in severe COVID-19

Abstract

Neutrophilia occurs in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and is predictive of poor outcomes. Here, we link heterogenous neutrophil populations to disease severity in COVID-19. We identified neutrophils with features of cellular aging and immunosuppressive capacity in mild COVID-19 and features of neutrophil immaturity and activation in severe disease. The low-density neutrophil (LDN) number in circulating blood correlated with COVID-19 severity. Many of the divergent neutrophil phenotypes in COVID-19 were overrepresented in the LDN fraction and were less detectable in normal-density neutrophils. Functionally, neutrophils from patients with severe COVID-19 displayed defects in neutrophil extracellular trap formation and reactive oxygen species production. Soluble factors secreted by neutrophils from these patients inhibited T cell proliferation. Neutrophils from patients with severe COVID-19 had increased expression of arginase-1 protein, a feature that was retained in convalescent patients. Despite this increase in intracellular expression, there was a reduction in arginase-1 release by neutrophils into serum and culture supernatants. Furthermore, neutrophil-mediated T cell suppression was independent of arginase-1. Our results indicate the presence of dysfunctional, activated, and immature neutrophils in severe COVID-19.

Authors

Amrita Dwivedi, Aisling Ui Mhaonaigh, Makala Carroll, Bahareh Khosravi, Isabella Batten, Robert Seán Ballantine, Stuart Hendricken Phelan, Laura O’Doherty, Angel Mary George, Jacklyn Sui, Heike C. Hawerkamp, Padraic G. Fallon, Elnè Noppe, Sabina Mason, Niall Conlon, Clíona Ni Cheallaigh, Conor M. Finlay, Mark A. Little, Bioresource on behalf of the St James’s and Tallaght Trinity Allied Researchers (STTAR)

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Figure 7

COVID-19 neutrophils suppress T cell proliferation independent of arginase-1 and display an inability to release arginase-1.

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COVID-19 neutrophils suppress T cell proliferation independent of argina...
PBMCs were isolated from autologous healthy controls and cocultured with cell-free supernatants prepared from isolated neutrophils cultured for 20 hours. (A) Rate of T cell proliferation upon coculture with neutrophil supernatant harvested from healthy controls (HC, n = 6) and patients with mild (n = 4) and severe (n = 6) COVID-19. (B) Arginase-1 concentration (determined by immunoassay) in the serum of HC (n = 10) and patients with mild (n = 23) and severe (n = 22) cases. (C) Arginase-1 activity in culture supernatants of purified neutrophils obtained from HC (n = 4) and patients with mild (n = 4) and severe (n = 4) cases. Solid black dots represent individuals with steroid exposure at the time of sampling. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparisons and ordinary 1-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. Median with IQR is shown.