Multi-omics integrated analysis reveals a specific phenotype of CD8+ T cell may contribute to immunothromosis via Th17 response in severe and critical COVID-19

T lymphocyte reduction and immunosenescence frequently occur in severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, which may cause immunothrombosis and numerous sequelae. This study integrated analyzed multi-omics data from healthy donors, pneumonia, COVID-19 patients (mild & moderate, severe, and critical), and convalescences, including clinical, laboratory test, PBMC bulk RNA-seq, PBMC scRNA-seq and TCR-seq, BAL scRNA-seq, and lung proteome. We revealed that there are certain associations among T lymphocyte reduction, CD8+ T cell senescence, Th17 immune activation, and immunothrombosis. A specific phenotype (S. P.) CD8+ T cells were identified in severe and critical COVID-19 patients in both PBMC and BAL scRNA-seq, which showed highly TCR homology with terminal effector CD8+ T cells and senescent CD8+ T cells. Pseudotime analysis showed that the S. P. CD8+ T cells were located in the transition trajectory from mild to severe disease. Which may be activated by terminal effector CD8+ T cells or senescent CD8+ T cells, thereby promoting Th17 cell differentiation. This phenomenon was absent in healthy donors, mild and moderate COVID-19 patients, or convalescences. Our findings are an important reference for avoiding the conversion of patients with mild to severe diseases and provide insight into the future prevention and control of COVID-19 and its variants.

Acupuncture Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Patients with Abdominal Obesity by Regulating Dai Meridian: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients with abdominal obesity by regulating glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, sex hormones, etc. METHODS: Eligible PCOS volunteers were randomly divided into treatment group(n=30) and control group(n=28). The treatment group received acupuncture therapy three times a week combined with diet control and exercise. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 4-8 mA) was applied to bilateral Daimai (GB 26)and Tianshu (ST 25) for 20 min/time, and bilateral Daheng (SP 15), Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), Guilai (ST 29), Zulinqi (GB 41) and Waiguan (SJ 5) were stimulated with filiform needles, with the needles retained for 20 min. Patients of the control group were asked to restrict intake of dietary calories (low fat, appropriate proteins, and high carbohydrate) and aerobic exercise (>40 min/time), 3 times/week. The treatment duration lasted 12 weeks. Before and after the treatment, serum fasting insulin (FINS), fasting blood-glucose (FBG), Testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) contents were assayed using immuno-fluorometry, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA -IR) and ratio of LH/FSH were calculated, and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were measured, separately. RESULTS: Comparison with their own individual pre-treatment, the levels of FINS, HOMA -IR, T, LH, LH/FSH, BMI, WC and WHR (not FBG) in both control and treatment groups were significantly decreased (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can effectively reduce FINS, HOMA-IR and WC levels in PCOS patients with abdominal obesity, down-regulating insulin resistance, which is significantly superior to simple diet control plus exercise.