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Hongwu Wang

Bio: Hongwu Wang is an academic researcher from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Hepatitis & Cytotoxic T cell. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 31 publications receiving 5347 citations.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect primarily T lymphocytes particularly CD4+T and CD8+ T cells, resulting in decrease in numbers as well as IFN-γ production, which may be of importance due to their correlation with disease severity in COVID-19.
Abstract: BACKGROUNDSince December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, and is now becoming a global threat. We aimed to delineate and compare the immunological features of severe and moderate COVID-19.METHODSIn this retrospective study, the clinical and immunological characteristics of 21 patients (17 male and 4 female) with COVID-19 were analyzed. These patients were classified as severe (11 cases) and moderate (10 cases) according to the guidelines released by the National Health Commission of China.RESULTSThe median age of severe and moderate cases was 61.0 and 52.0 years, respectively. Common clinical manifestations included fever, cough, and fatigue. Compared with moderate cases, severe cases more frequently had dyspnea, lymphopenia, and hypoalbuminemia, with higher levels of alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimer as well as markedly higher levels of IL-2R, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α. Absolute numbers of T lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells decreased in nearly all the patients, and were markedly lower in severe cases (294.0, 177.5, and 89.0 × 106/L, respectively) than moderate cases (640.5, 381.5, and 254.0 × 106/L, respectively). The expression of IFN-γ by CD4+ T cells tended to be lower in severe cases (14.1%) than in moderate cases (22.8%).CONCLUSIONThe SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect primarily T lymphocytes, particularly CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, resulting in a decrease in numbers as well as IFN-γ production by CD4+ T cells. These potential immunological markers may be of importance because of their correlation with disease severity in COVID-19.TRIAL REGISTRATIONThis is a retrospective observational study without a trial registration number.FUNDINGThis work is funded by grants from Tongji Hospital for the Pilot Scheme Project, and partly supported by the Chinese National Thirteenth Five Years Project in Science and Technology for Infectious Disease (2017ZX10202201).

3,488 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
26 Mar 2020-BMJ
TL;DR: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection can cause both pulmonary and systemic inflammation, leading to multi-organ dysfunction in patients at high risk, including patients with cardiovascular comorbidity.
Abstract: Objective To delineate the clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) who died. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China. Participants Among a cohort of 799 patients, 113 who died and 161 who recovered with a diagnosis of covid-19 were analysed. Data were collected until 28 February 2020. Main outcome measures Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were obtained from electronic medical records with data collection forms. Results The median age of deceased patients (68 years) was significantly older than recovered patients (51 years). Male sex was more predominant in deceased patients (83; 73%) than in recovered patients (88; 55%). Chronic hypertension and other cardiovascular comorbidities were more frequent among deceased patients (54 (48%) and 16 (14%)) than recovered patients (39 (24%) and 7 (4%)). Dyspnoea, chest tightness, and disorder of consciousness were more common in deceased patients (70 (62%), 55 (49%), and 25 (22%)) than in recovered patients (50 (31%), 48 (30%), and 1 (1%)). The median time from disease onset to death in deceased patients was 16 (interquartile range 12.0-20.0) days. Leukocytosis was present in 56 (50%) patients who died and 6 (4%) who recovered, and lymphopenia was present in 103 (91%) and 76 (47%) respectively. Concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin I, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and D-dimer were markedly higher in deceased patients than in recovered patients. Common complications observed more frequently in deceased patients included acute respiratory distress syndrome (113; 100%), type I respiratory failure (18/35; 51%), sepsis (113; 100%), acute cardiac injury (72/94; 77%), heart failure (41/83; 49%), alkalosis (14/35; 40%), hyperkalaemia (42; 37%), acute kidney injury (28; 25%), and hypoxic encephalopathy (23; 20%). Patients with cardiovascular comorbidity were more likely to develop cardiac complications. Regardless of history of cardiovascular disease, acute cardiac injury and heart failure were more common in deceased patients. Conclusion Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection can cause both pulmonary and systemic inflammation, leading to multi-organ dysfunction in patients at high risk. Acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure, sepsis, acute cardiac injury, and heart failure were the most common critical complications during exacerbation of covid-19.

3,231 citations

Posted ContentDOI
19 Feb 2020-medRxiv
TL;DR: The SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect primarily T lymphocytes, particularly CD4+T cells, resulting in significant decrease in number as well as IFN-γ production, which may be associated with disease severity in COVID-19.
Abstract: Background Since late December, 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia cases caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, and continued to spread throughout China and across the globe. To date, few data on immunologic features of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported. Methods In this single-centre retrospective study, a total of 21 patients with pneumonia who were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan Tongji hospital were included from Dec 19, 2019 to Jan 27, 2020. The immunologic characteristics as well as their clinical, laboratory, radiological features were compared between 11 severe cases and 10 moderate cases. Results Of the 21 patients with COVID-19, only 4 (19%) had a history of exposure to the Huanan seafood market. 7 (33.3%) patients had underlying conditions. The average age of severe and moderate cases was 63.9 and 51.4 years, 10 (90.9%) severe cases and 7 (70.0%) moderate cases were male. Common clinical manifestations including fever (100%, 100%), cough (70%, 90%), fatigue (100%, 70%) and myalgia (50%, 30%) in severe cases and moderate cases. PaO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly lower in severe cases (122.9) than moderate cases (366.2). Lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in severe cases (0.7 × 10□/L) than moderate cases (1.1 × 10□/L). Alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and ferritin were significantly higher in severe cases (41.4 U/L, 567.2 U/L, 135.2 mg/L and 1734.4 ug/L) than moderate cases (17.6 U/L, 234.4 U/L, 51.4 mg/L and 880.2 ug /L). IL-2R, TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations on admission were significantly higher in severe cases (1202.4 pg/mL, 10.9 pg/mL and 10.9 pg/mL) than moderate cases (441.7 pg/mL, 7.5 pg/mL and 6.6 pg/mL). Absolute number of total T lymphocytes, CD4+T cells and CD8+T cells decreased in nearly all the patients, and were significantly lower in severe cases (332.5, 185.6 and 124.3 × 106/L) than moderate cases (676.5, 359.2 and 272.0 × 106/L). The expressions of IFN-γ by CD4+T cells tended to be lower in severe cases (14.6%) than moderate cases (23.6%). Conclusion The SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect primarily T lymphocytes, particularly CD4+T cells, resulting in significant decrease in number as well as IFN-γ production, which may be associated with disease severity. Together with clinical characteristics, early immunologic indicators including diminished T lymphocytes and elevated cytokines may serve as potential markers for prognosis in COVID-19.

161 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: NK cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of FHF and HBV-ACLF, in which process Fas/FasL and NKG2D/NKG 2D ligand pathway contribute to the liver NK cell-mediated hepatocyte injury.
Abstract: The role of liver NK cells in virus-induced severe viral hepatitis and, subsequently, hepatic failure is not well defined. In this study, we investigated the role of liver NK cells in the development of hepatocyte necrosis in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) because of viral infection. A mouse model of FHF induced by murine hepatitis virus strain 3 (MHV-3) was used to study the role of liver NK cells. Samples from patients with hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) were examined. After MHV-3 infection, the number of NK cells in livers of BALB/cJ mice increased markedly, peaked at 48 h postinfection, and remained at a high level until sacrifice. In peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow, this number decreased significantly. Expression of CD69, cytotoxic activity, and intracellular IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production by liver NK cells at 48 h postinfection were all significantly upregulated. Depletion of NK cells 24 h post-MHV-3 infection increased the mice survival from 0 of 18 (0%) to 4 of 18 (22.2%). Highly activated liver NK cells were cytotoxic to MHV-3-infected hepatocytes and this effect was markedly inhibited by anti-Fas ligand (FasL) plus anti-NKG2D mAbs. Furthermore, the accumulation of hepatic NK cells and increased expression of FasL and natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKp30 and NKp46) on the peripheral NK cells from patients with HBV-ACLF were correlated with disease progression. These results indicate NK cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of FHF and HBV-ACLF, in which process Fas/FasL and NKG2D/NKG2D ligand pathway contribute to the liver NK cell-mediated hepatocyte injury.

124 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In an HBV-immunocompetent mouse model, non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis inhibited HBV replication, as indicated by the reduction of HBV DNA andHBV-related antigens.
Abstract: The relationship between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and fatty liver in patients remains unclear. Although high-fat diets-induced hepatic steatosis was proved to reduce HBV replication in transgenic mice, the interplay between HBV and fatty liver in immunocompetent mouse model is yet to be elucidated. Here, we aimed to develop an effective animal model for intracellular HBV persistence combined with hepatic steatosis and to explore their interactions. FVB/N mice with HBV genotype B replicon DNA were established by hydrodynamic injection. Mice injected with HBV or control plasmid vectors were then randomized into NAFLD + HBV, HBV, NAFLD, and control groups and treated with a high-fat or standard diet for up to 14 weeks. The characteristics of NAFLD were evaluated by physical indices, liver function tests, glycolipid metabolism, and liver histopathological changes. Viral dynamics were also analyzed by HBV DNA and HBV-related antigens. HBV clone persistently replicated in the livers of FVB/N mice, and hepatic steatosis was induced by a high-fat diet. The NAFLD and NAFLD + HBV groups shared similar physical features, glycolipid metabolism, liver function, and hepatic steatosis. Serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), hepatic hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg),hepatitis B c antigen (HBcAg), and HBV DNA were decreased in the NAFLD + HBV group compared with those in the HBV group at the end of 14 weeks. In an HBV-immunocompetent mouse model, non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis inhibited HBV replication, as indicated by the reduction of HBV DNA and HBV-related antigens. HBV replication did not alter lipid metabolism in mice.

49 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings reinforce the recommendation to strictly apply pharmacological thrombosis prophylaxis in all COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU, and are strongly suggestive of increasing the prophYLaxis towards high-prophylactic doses, even in the absence of randomized evidence.

3,886 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Author(s): Livingston, Gill; Huntley, Jonathan; Sommerlad, Andrew ; Sommer Glad, Andrew; Ames, David; Ballard, Clive; Banerjee, Sube; Brayne, Carol; Burns, Alistair; Cohen-Mansfield, Jiska; Cooper, Claudia; Costafreda, Sergi G; Dias, Amit; Fox, Nick; Gitlin, Laura N; Howard, Robert; Kales, Helen C;

3,559 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the immune system and the subsequent contribution of dysfunctional immune responses to disease progression is described and the implications of these approaches for potential therapeutic interventions that target viral infection and/or immunoregulation are highlighted.
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Alongside investigations into the virology of SARS-CoV-2, understanding the fundamental physiological and immunological processes underlying the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 is vital for the identification and rational design of effective therapies. Here, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We describe the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the immune system and the subsequent contribution of dysfunctional immune responses to disease progression. From nascent reports describing SARS-CoV-2, we make inferences on the basis of the parallel pathophysiological and immunological features of the other human coronaviruses targeting the lower respiratory tract - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Finally, we highlight the implications of these approaches for potential therapeutic interventions that target viral infection and/or immunoregulation.

3,236 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The basic virology of SARS-CoV-2 is described, including genomic characteristics and receptor use, highlighting its key difference from previously known coronaviruses.
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 and has caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, named ‘coronavirus disease 2019’ (COVID-19), which threatens human health and public safety. In this Review, we describe the basic virology of SARS-CoV-2, including genomic characteristics and receptor use, highlighting its key difference from previously known coronaviruses. We summarize current knowledge of clinical, epidemiological and pathological features of COVID-19, as well as recent progress in animal models and antiviral treatment approaches for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also discuss the potential wildlife hosts and zoonotic origin of this emerging virus in detail. In this Review, Shi and colleagues summarize the exceptional amount of research that has characterized acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since this virus has swept around the globe. They discuss what we know so far about the emergence and virology of SARS-CoV-2 and the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19.

2,904 citations