Fig. 2: Patients with COVID-19 exhibit features of VIS.
From: Virus-induced senescence is a driver and therapeutic target in COVID-19
a, IHA of senescence markers and BCL-w, and in situ hybridization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the respiratory mucosa of nasopharyngeal specimens from patients with COVID-19 (n = 6 for p16INK4A and IL-8, otherwise n = 5) compared with individuals without COVID-19 (non-COVID-19; n = 2). Quantification of affected areas is presented as the mean percentage of positive cells ± s.d. or the mean percentage of positive area ± s.d. (lipofuscin only). b, scRNA-seq-based GEP of upper airway tissue from patients with COVID-19 (n = 19) and healthy donors (n = 5). Colour-coded average-scaled (z scores) expression levels of the respective transcripts and cell types are shown. nrMa, non-residential macrophage; rMA, residential macrophage. c, GEP of SASP-reminiscent cytokines in upper (nasopharynx) and lower airway (lung) tissue from autopsy samples from patients with COVID-19 compared with individuals without COVID-19 (n = 3 each) by oligonucleotide-based transcript hybridization. d, CD86 IHA of macrophages in lung specimens from patients with COVID-19 (n = 13) compared with individuals without COVID-19 (n = 6). Mean number of positive non-epithelial cells in 0.1 mm2 ± s.d., P = 0.0005. e, Multiplex bead-based protein analysis of serum samples from patients with COVID-19 (n = 32) and healthy donors (n = 8). f, Mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis of serum from patients with COVID-19 (n = 26) and from healthy donors (serum n = 3 and plasma n = 11). Heatmaps in e and f present scaled (z scores) protein intensities. g, Three-dimensional plot showing serum levels of D-dimer (clotting activity), SERPINA3 (coagulation-related SASP factor) and IL-6 (pro-inflammatory SASP factor) correlated to clinical COVID-19 severity per World Health Organization grades (g3–g6). n = 133 patients. The size of the sphere is proportional to the population size. Scale bars, 50 μm (a, d).
