Deciphering a specific signature of the immunosenescence induced in COVID-19+ patients versus rheumatoid arthritis patients
Concept
Immune aging or immunosenescence is characterized by a loss of T cell clonal diversity and a contraction of naïve T cells with proliferative capacity associated with the functional impairment of many others immune cells as well as a chronic low degree of inflammation. It is not clear today if the association of COVID-19 disease severity with age is mainly related with the immunosenescence of infected patients. To better understand the immunological mechanisms involved in SARS-Cov-2 pathophysiology, this project aims at comparing the immunosenescence patterns observed during RA, aging and SARS-Cov-2 infected patients in order to design improved therapeutic interventions.
Facts and Figures
Y M Pers
CHU Montpellier
ym-pers@chu-montpellier.fr
Meet the Team
INSERM UMR1183
INSERM UMR1183
Université Pierre et Marie Curie
CHU Saint-Etienne
Clínica Universidad de los Andes
AFPric
Objectives
- Determine the senescence immunophenotyping in COVID-19+ patients
- Compare the immunosenescence of COVID-19+ patients to a reference inflammatory disease with immunosenescence (active RA)
- Specify the specific gene expression of the immunosenescence induced in patients infected by SARS-Cov-2
Goals/Milestones
- WP1: Recruitment of patients
- WP2: Multiparametric cytometry experiments
- WP3: Single Cell Analysis
- WP4: Coordination and management of the project / reporting
Patient Voice
Patients with RA may be at particular risk for COVID-19 as they show an intrinsically higher risk for infections. On the other hand, among RA treatments, JAK inhibitors or IL-6 targeting drugs may counteract CRS and immunosenescence by protecting RA patients from deleterious outcomes. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms of immunosenescence observed in RA compared to the patterns associated with SARS-Cov-2 is important and may validate the use of senolytic drugs such as Jak inhibitors, already available in RA patients.