Distinct lung cell signatures define the temporal evolution of diffuse alveolar damage in fatal COVID-19

Luke Milross, Bethany Hunter, David McDonald, George Merces, Amanda Thomson, Catharien M U Hilkens, John Wills, Paul Rees, Kasim Jiwa, Nigel Cooper, Joaquim Majo, Helen Ashwin, Christopher J A Duncan, Paul M Kaye, Omer Ali Bayraktar, Andrew Filby, Andrew J Fisher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background
Lung damage in severe COVID-19 is highly heterogeneous however studies with dedicated spatial distinction of discrete temporal phases of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and alternate lung injury patterns are lacking. Existing studies have also not accounted for progressive airspace obliteration in cellularity estimates. We used an imaging mass cytometry (IMC) analysis with an airspace correction step to more accurately identify the cellular immune response that underpins the heterogeneity of severe COVID-19 lung disease.

Methods
Lung tissue was obtained at post-mortem from severe COVID-19 deaths. Pathologist-selected regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen by light microscopy representing the patho-evolutionary spectrum of DAD and alternate disease phenotypes were selected for comparison. Architecturally normal SARS-CoV-2-positive lung tissue and tissue from SARS-CoV-2-negative donors served as controls. ROIs were stained for 40 cellular protein markers and ablated using IMC before segmented cells were classified. Cell populations corrected by ROI airspace and their spatial relationships were compared across lung injury patterns.

Findings
Forty patients (32M:8F, age: 22–98), 345 ROIs and >900k single cells were analysed. DAD progression was marked by airspace obliteration and significant increases in mononuclear phagocytes (MnPs), T and B lymphocytes and significant decreases in alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells. Neutrophil populations proved stable overall although several interferon-responding subsets demonstrated expansion. Spatial analysis revealed immune cell interactions occur prior to microscopically appreciable tissue injury.

Interpretation
The immunopathogenesis of severe DAD in COVID-19 lung disease is characterised by sustained increases in MnPs and lymphocytes with key interactions occurring even prior to lung injury is established.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104945
Number of pages15
JournalEBioMedicine
Volume99
Early online date23 Dec 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2024

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© 2023 The Author(s)

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