{"title":"Eosinophils and COVID-19: Insights into immune complexity and vaccine safety","authors":"Wided Sahli, Joana Vitte, Benoit Desnues","doi":"10.1002/clt2.70050","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>COVID-19 exhibits a variety of symptoms and may lead to multi-organ failure and death. This clinical complexity is exacerbated by significant immune dysregulation affecting nearly all cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Granulocytes, including eosinophils, are affected by SARS-CoV-2.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objectives</h3>\n \n <p>Eosinophil responses remain poorly understood despite early recognition of eosinopenia as a hallmark feature of COVID-19 severity.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>The heterogeneous nature of eosinophil responses categorizes them as dual-function cells with contradictory effects. Eosinophil activation can suppress virus-induced inflammation by releasing type 2 cytokines like IL-13 and granular proteins with antiviral action such as eosinophil-derived neurotoxins and eosinophil cationic protein, and also by acting as antigen-presenting cells. In contrast, eosinophil accumulation in the lungs can induce tissue damage triggered by cytokines or hormones like IFN-γ and leptin. Additionally, they can affect adaptive immune functions by interacting with T cells through direct formation of membrane complexes or soluble mediator action. Individuals with allergic disorders who have elevated levels of eosinophils in tissues and blood, such as asthma, do not appear to be at an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine appears to be associated with complications and eosinophilic infiltrate-induced immunopathogenicity, which can be mitigated by corticosteroid, anti-histamines and anti-IL-5 therapy and avoided by modifying adjuvants or excipients.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\n \n <p>This review highlights the importance of eosinophils in COVID-19 and contributes to a better understanding of their role during natural infection and vaccination.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":10334,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Translational Allergy","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/clt2.70050","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical and Translational Allergy","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/clt2.70050","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ALLERGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
COVID-19 exhibits a variety of symptoms and may lead to multi-organ failure and death. This clinical complexity is exacerbated by significant immune dysregulation affecting nearly all cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Granulocytes, including eosinophils, are affected by SARS-CoV-2.
Objectives
Eosinophil responses remain poorly understood despite early recognition of eosinopenia as a hallmark feature of COVID-19 severity.
Results
The heterogeneous nature of eosinophil responses categorizes them as dual-function cells with contradictory effects. Eosinophil activation can suppress virus-induced inflammation by releasing type 2 cytokines like IL-13 and granular proteins with antiviral action such as eosinophil-derived neurotoxins and eosinophil cationic protein, and also by acting as antigen-presenting cells. In contrast, eosinophil accumulation in the lungs can induce tissue damage triggered by cytokines or hormones like IFN-γ and leptin. Additionally, they can affect adaptive immune functions by interacting with T cells through direct formation of membrane complexes or soluble mediator action. Individuals with allergic disorders who have elevated levels of eosinophils in tissues and blood, such as asthma, do not appear to be at an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine appears to be associated with complications and eosinophilic infiltrate-induced immunopathogenicity, which can be mitigated by corticosteroid, anti-histamines and anti-IL-5 therapy and avoided by modifying adjuvants or excipients.
Conclusion
This review highlights the importance of eosinophils in COVID-19 and contributes to a better understanding of their role during natural infection and vaccination.
期刊介绍:
Clinical and Translational Allergy, one of several journals in the portfolio of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, provides a platform for the dissemination of allergy research and reviews, as well as EAACI position papers, task force reports and guidelines, amongst an international scientific audience.
Clinical and Translational Allergy accepts clinical and translational research in the following areas and other related topics: asthma, rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, drug hypersensitivity, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic skin diseases, atopic eczema, urticaria, angioedema, venom hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis, food allergy, immunotherapy, immune modulators and biologics, animal models of allergic disease, immune mechanisms, or any other topic related to allergic disease.