79. Children with COVID-19 Demonstrate Distinct Serum Cytokines Profiles According to Clinical Presentations

Abstract Background Almost 4 million children have tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of June 3 2021, representing 14% of all cases in USA. Children present with diverse clinical findings including the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). In this study, we measured serum cytokine concentrations in children with COVID-19 to identify differences in immune profiles according to clinical presentations. Methods A total of 133 children 0-21 years of age with COVID-19 were enrolled at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio. Nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR testing was used for SARS-CoV-2 detection and quantification. Clinical and laboratory information were obtained, and blood samples were collected for measurement of cytokines with a 92-plex inflammation assay (Olink). Normalized cytokine expression levels in patients were compared with serum samples from 66 pre-pandemic age-matched healthy controls. Results COVID-19 children included: 1) those identified by universal screening (n=47); 2) moderate disease (ward; n=48); 3) severe disease (PICU; n=20); 4) MIS-C (n=18). Children identified by universal screening were hospitalized for trauma, appendicitis or new onset diabetes among others. Children with symptomatic COVID-19 had significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 viral loads than children with MIS-C or those identified via universal screening. Concentrations of interferon (IFN) related cytokines (IFNg, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11), interleukins (IL6, IL8, IL10, IL17A, IL18, IL24) and other inflammatory cytokines (TGF, TNF, VEGF, MCP, CD40) were significantly increased in children with acute COVID-19 and MIS-C compared with children identified by universal screening and healthy controls. These cytokines were positively correlated with C-reactive protein, D-dimer and disease severity in COVID-19, but negatively correlated with viral loads (Fig 1). MIS-C showed stronger inflammatory response than acute COVID-19 (Fig 2). Correlation of Age-adjusted cytokine expression values with viral load, disease severity, CRP and D-dimer. Pearson correlation coefficient is shown for each pair. Red: positive correlation; blue: negative correlation Cytokines that differentiate MIS-C from acute COVID-19 Heatmap shows the differential expressed cytokines between MIS-C and acute severe COVID-19 (padj<0.05, FC>2). The age-adjusted expression values are normalized the median of healthy controls. Red: up-regulation, blue: down-regulation. Conclusion We identified three cytokine clusters in children with COVID-19 according to clinical presentations. Correlations of serum cytokines with clinical/laboratory parameters could be used to identify potential biomarkers associated with disease severity in COVID-19 Disclosures Asuncion Mejias, MD, PhD, MsCS, Janssen (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member)Merck (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member)Roche (Advisor or Review Panel member)Sanofi (Advisor or Review Panel member) Octavio Ramilo, MD, Adagio (Consultant)Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Grant/Research Support)Janssen (Grant/Research Support)Lilly (Consultant)Merck (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)NIH (Grant/Research Support)Pfizer (Consultant)SANOFI (Board Member)


Session: O-17. Hot Topics in Pediatric Viral and Fungal Infections
Background. Diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), a life-threatening complication of cancer therapy or hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be challenging, and IFI has poor outcomes. Prediction or early non-invasive diagnosis of IFI in high-risk hosts before onset of symptoms could reduce morbidity and mortality.
Because non-invasive plasma mcfDNA NGS can detect invasive fungal infections, and may predict bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients, we hypothesized that mcfDNA NGS might also predict invasive fungal infection before clinical presentation.
Methods. In a prospective study, serial remnant plasma samples were collected from pediatric patients undergoing treatment for relapsed or refractory leukemia. IFI events were classified according to EORTC criteria by 2 independent experts, and episodes empirically treated for suspected IFI, but not meeting 'possible' criteria were classified as 'suspected' . All samples collected within 30 days before clinical diagnosis of non-fungemic IFI were tested for fungal DNA by mcfDNA NGS using a research-use only assay by Karius, Inc. optimized for fungi; because of overlapping clinical syndromes, non-fungal DNA was not considered in this study.
Results. There were 15 episodes of suspected IFI in 14 participants with ≥1 sample available from either diagnostic (within 1 day of diagnosis) or predictive (2 to 30 days prior to diagnosis) periods (5 "suspected", and 4 probable and 6 proven by EORTC definitions).
Of 10 probable or proven IFIs, 6 (60%) had a relevant fungal pathogen identified mcfDNA NGS at diagnosis. In each of these cases the fungal DNA was also detectable prior to clinical onset of IFI (Range 2 to 41 days; Figure 1). In an additional case, manual review of sequence data identified the fungal DNA at diagnosis and during the prior month. Of 5 "suspected" IFI episodes, all were determined by expert review as not representing fungal infection; fungal DNA was identified by mcfDNA NGS in 2/54 (3.7%) of samples from these episodes.  Children present with diverse clinical findings including the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). In this study, we measured serum cytokine concentrations in children with COVID-19 to identify differences in immune profiles according to clinical presentations.
Methods. A total of 133 children 0-21 years of age with COVID-19 were enrolled at Nationwide Children's Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio. Nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR testing was used for SARS-CoV-2 detection and quantification. Clinical and laboratory information were obtained, and blood samples were collected for measurement of cytokines with a 92-plex inflammation assay (Olink). Normalized cytokine expression levels in patients were compared with serum samples from 66 pre-pandemic agematched healthy controls.

Session: O-17. Hot Topics in Pediatric Viral and Fungal Infections
Background. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective enzyme with potent anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects. The HO-1 response is modulated by functional polymorphisms (a dinucleotide (GT)n repeat length variation) in the HO-1 gene promoter region which have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) susceptibility in adults. HO-1 polymorphisms and their associations with markers of inflammation and CVD in Ugandan adolescents with (HIV+) and without HIV (HIV-) have not been investigated.
Methods. We included 177 children (92 HIV+, 85 HIV-) enrolled in an ongoing observational cohort study at the Joint Clinical Research Center, Kampala, Uganda. All HIV+ participants were on ART. HO-1 (GT)n allele genotypes were determined by PCR of the (GT)n repeat region followed by fragment size determination on a capillary sequencer in DNA extracted from blood samples. Allele designations were assigned by number of (GT)n repeats: S < 27, M 27-34, or L > 34 repeats. We measured mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) as a marker of CVD, markers of systemic inflammation (hsCRP, IL6, sTNFRI), monocyte activation (sCD14 and sCD163), and T-cell activation (expression of CD38 and HLA-DR on CD4+ and CD8+) , oxidized lipids, markers of gut integrity and fungal translocation (BDG).
Results. Median age (IQR) was 13 (11, 14), 44% were females, 86% had viral load < 20 copies/mL. 19% had a short allele genotype, 37% had a medium allele genotype and 44% had a long allele genotype (Figure). The shortest and longest allele length correlated with lower IMT in HIV-only (r=-0.36 and -0.30, respectively, p≤ 0.01 for both). Among biomarkers, only the medium allele correlated with oxidized lipids in HIV+ and with hsCRP and BDG in HIV-(p≤ 0.05). After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, the presence of a long allele was associated with lower IMT. This was no longer significant after adjusting for markers of inflammation or oxidized lipids (Table).
Heme Oxygenase-1 genotype allele length frequency in Ugandan cohort of HIV+ and HIV-youth

Table.
Associations with carotid intima-media thickness using quantile regression analysis for all participants 1: Models are adjusted for age (years), sex (male vs female), BMI (kg/m2) and HIV status (positive vs negative) 2: Models are adjusted for age (years), sex (male vs female), BMI (kg/m2), sCD14 (pg/mL) and HIV status (positive vs negative) 3: Models are adjusted for age (years), sex (male vs female), BMI (kg/m2), high sensitivity C reactive protein (ng/mL) and HIV status (positive vs negative) 4: Models are adjusted for age (years), sex (male vs female), BMI (kg/m2), oxidized lipids and HIV status (positive vs negative) Conclusion. These findings underscore the potential of the HO pathways in modulating future risk for CVD in adolescents through inflammation. HIV status in this setting, likely influences the associations with the genotype with the risk of CVD. Further studies to validate our findings in this population are required.