Hong Kong Med J 2008;14(Suppl 4):S21-6
Mechanisms of lymphocyte loss in SARS coronavirus infection
PKS Chan, GG Chen
1. Human lymphocytes and monocytes are not permissive to productive SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection in vitro.
2. Challenge of lymphocytes and monocytes with infectious SARS-CoV, inactivated virions, and receptor-binding fragment of spike protein does not trigger apoptosis.
3. Direct infection/interaction between viruses and lymphocytes/monocytes is unlikely to be the cause of lymphopaenia in SARS patients.
4. Lymphopaenia in SARS patients is likely to result from indirect mechanisms secondary to the viral infection.
2. Challenge of lymphocytes and monocytes with infectious SARS-CoV, inactivated virions, and receptor-binding fragment of spike protein does not trigger apoptosis.
3. Direct infection/interaction between viruses and lymphocytes/monocytes is unlikely to be the cause of lymphopaenia in SARS patients.
4. Lymphopaenia in SARS patients is likely to result from indirect mechanisms secondary to the viral infection.