Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Journal Article Scoping Review Epublish 32 citations
PubMed: 36090983 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.992743
Immune responses in COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection: A scoping review.
Front Immunol 13:992743
Authors: Kevin Flores-Lovon, Brando Ortiz-Saavedra, Luis A Cueva-ChicaƱa, Shalom Aperrigue-Lira, Elizbet S Montes-Madariaga, David R Soriano-Moreno, Brett Bell, Rodney Macedo
Affiliations
- Universidad Nacional de San AgustĆn de Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru.
- Grupo de InvestigaciĆ³n en InmunologĆa - GII, UNSA, Arequipa, Peru.
- Universidad Nacional de San AgustĆn de Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru. Grupo de InvestigaciĆ³n en InmunologĆa - GII, UNSA, Arequipa, Peru.
- Unidad de InvestigaciĆ³n ClĆnica y EpidemiolĆ³gica, Universidad Peruana UniĆ³n, Lima, Peru.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States.
Abstract
Background and aim
Patients with COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection are at an increased risk of severe disease and death. We therefore sought to evaluate the current evidence which assessed the immune response in COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection.
Methods
We searched Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify articles published between 2020 and 2021. We included observational studies evaluating the immune response in patients with tuberculosis and COVID-19 compared to patients with COVID-19 alone.
Results
Four cross-sectional studies (372 participants) were identified. In patients with asymptomatic COVID-19 and latent tuberculosis (LTBI), increased cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and humoral responses were found. In addition, patients with symptomatic COVID-19 and LTBI had higher leukocytes counts and less inflammation. Regarding patients with COVID-19 and active tuberculosis (aTB), they exhibited decreased total lymphocyte counts, CD4 T cells specific against SARS-CoV-2 and responsiveness to SARS-CoV-2 antigens compared to patients with only COVID-19.
Conclusion
Although the evidence is limited, an apparent positive immunomodulation is observed in patients with COVID-19 and LTBI. On the other hand, patients with COVID-19 and aTB present a dysregulated immune response. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and expand knowledge.
MeSH
Lymphocyte Count, Coinfection, Covid-19, Immune System Diseases, Tuberculosis, Immunity
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- Self-reported COVID-19 severity among persons with tuberculosis infection in western Kenya, 2021. PLOS Glob Public Health, 2025
- T Cell Response in Tuberculosis-Infected Patients Vaccinated against COVID-19. Microorganisms, 2023
- Latent tuberculosis coinfection in mild COVID-19 is associated with a distinct immune cell phenotype marked by enhanced cytotoxic degranulation and mitochondrial alterations. Front Immunol, 2025
- Impact of Severity of COVID-19 in TB Disease Patients: Experience from an Italian Infectious Disease Referral Hospital. Infect Dis Rep, 2025
- Impact of Tuberculosis on Disease Severity and Viral Shedding Duration in COVID-19 Patients. Viruses, 2024
- Coinfections in Tuberculosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Epidemiology, Clinical Implications, Diagnostic Challenges, and Management Strategies-A Narrative Review. J Clin Med, 2025
- Functional and structural insights into the multicopper oxidase MmcO from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: implications for drug targeting. Front Chem, 2025