[Abstract] Objective To explore clinical and immunological characteristics of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19. Methods?Fifty nine cases with COVID-19 were admitted to the Shijiazhuang Fifth Hospital during January 22, and June 22, 2020, and the clinical data of patients were analyzed. The T lymphocyte subsets counts were analyzed by flow cytometry. Twenty-five serum cytokines and 9 chemokines release level in peripheral blood were detected by Procarta Plex. Result?Of the 59 patients with COVID-19, there were 28 asymptomatic carriers (47.5%), 6 mild cases (10.2%), 19 moderate cases (32.2%), and 6 severe/critical cases (10.2%). The median age of asymptomatic carriers was 23.0 (19.3, 34.8), which was significantly lower than moderate cases with 35.0 (24.0, 52.0) and severe/critical cases with 64.5 (52.0, 68.3) (P<0.05). Asymptomatic carriers had fewer underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, signs and thoracic abnormalities on computed tomography. The CD3+ T cell, CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell counts in peripheral blood were significantly higher in asymptomatic carriers than those in severe/critical cases (P<0.05). The CD4+ T cell counts were significantly higher in asymptomatic carriers than those of moderate cases (P<0.05). The CD3+ T cell, CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell counts before and after treatment displayed no significant changes in 14 asymptomatic carriers (P<0.05). The changes of CD4+ T cell counts before and after treatment in 14 asymptomatic carriers were significantly lower than those in moderate and severe/critical cases (P<0.05). Eleven cytokines and chemokines were detectable in serum of asymptomatic carriers. The level of IL-7 was significantly higher than that of control group, and the IP-10 was significantly lower compared with moderate and severe/critical cases (P<0.05). Conclusions?The majority of COVID-19 asymptomatic carriers were young people, but there was no correlation with gender factors. With the progression of COVID-19, the counts of T cell subsets in periphery decreased in moderate and severe/critical patients, while the levels of cytokines and chemokines increased. However, no significant changes were observed in asymptomatic carriers. |