Aberrant pathogenic GM-CSF+ T cells and inflammatory CD14+CD16+ monocytes in severe pulmonary syndrome patients of a new coronavirus

Yonggang Zhou; Binqing Fu; Xiaohu Zheng; Dongsheng Wang; Changcheng Zhao; Yingjie qi; Rui Sun; Zhigang Tian; Xiaoling Xu; Haiming Wei

. Moreover, these monocyte from patients infected 123 2019-nCoV also showed capability to secrete GM-CSF. Importantly, significantly higher 124 expression of IL-6 secreted from these inflammatory monocyte especially in ICU patients, 125 which let the cytokine storm even worse (Fig.3b, d) . Meanwhile, the number of GM-CSF + 126 monocytes and IL-6 + monocytes increased rapidly (Fig.3e) , suggesting the potential high risk 127 of inflammatory cytokine storm caused by monocytes that may migrate to the lung and 128 further derive into macrophage or monocyte derived dendritic cells. Thus, in patients infected 129 with 2019-nCoV, GM-CSF potentially links the severe pulmonary syndrome-initiating 130 capacity of pathogenic Th1 cells (GM-CSF + IFN + ) with the inflammatory signature of 131 monocytes (CD14 + CD16 + with high expression of IL-6) and their progeny. These activated 132 author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.