The immunomodulatory action of C‐Vx substance on Cytotoxic T and Natural Killer cells in COVID‐19

Abstract

Nilgun Okumus Akdeniz1, Ilhan Tahralı1, Esin Aktas Cetin1, Fatma Betul Oktelik1, Yelda Ogutmen2, Umut Can Kucuksezer1, Hamida Heba3, Mustafa Oral Oncul2, Gunnur Deniz11Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Immunology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey2Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey3Hamida Laboratory Inc. California, USA, Miracle Labs, İstanbul, TurkeyCOVID‐19 is a global pandemic infectious disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 overactivated innate immunity and cytokine storms have been proposed as potential pathological mechanismsfor rapid COVID‐19 progression. Cytotoxic functions of natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells in patients with COVID‐19 and their associations with disease severity were investigated.The study group consisted of mild (n=10), moderate (n=8) and severe (n=10) COVID‐19 patients and healthy (n=10) individuals. The effects of C‐Vx on the cytotoxic functions were determined using the CD107a degranulation, perforin and granzyme B expression by flow cytometry. When perforin and granyme expressions of CD3−CD16+CD56+ NK and also CD8+ T cells in response to C‐Vx was investigated, no significant differences among any patient groups nor healthy individuals were observed. On the other hand, CD107a levels on NK cells was significantly up‐regulated in mild COVID‐19 cases as well as healthy individuals, in response to presence of C‐Vx. While, in moderate and severe patients, C‐Vx was not able to induce any further up‐regulation of CD107a over K‐562 stimulation. In all COVID‐19 patients, CD107a expression of CD8+ T cells was increased with no statistical significance, in response to K‐562 co‐culture, regardless of C‐Vx stimulation. These findings support the role of C‐Vx in innate immunity by increasing the capacity of NK cytotoxicity. Prophylactic use of natural products like C‐Vx may be a good approach to stop or at least slow down the transmission of COVID‐19.Keywords: Immune response tracing, NK cells, viral infections