Immune status in women after COVID-19 living in the subarctic region

Background. T cell immunity is known to play a central role in controlling SARSCoV- 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2) infection, so it is critical to understand its role in recovery from COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), especially in the unfavorable conditions of the North.
The aim. To assess the immune status of women after COVID-19 living in the subarctic region of the Russian Federation.
Materials and methods. We examined a total of 50 women aged 36–46 years, including 38 vaccinated women 6 and 12 months after recovery from COVID-19 and 12 women (control group) who had not had COVID-19 and had not been vaccinated (Arkhangelsk region). We studied leukocyte count, leukogram and lymphocyte phenotypes (CD5+, CD8+, CD10+, CD16+, CD95+).
Results. The contribution of monocytes to the formation of the adaptive immune response among female residents of the subarctic region decreases in those who have had mild COVID-19 and increases in those who have had moderate COVID-19. It was found that the imbalance in the formation of the immune response after COVID-19 is formed due to innate immunity (CD16+, neutrophils (r = 0.89; p < 0.001)), affects the adaptive immunity and depends on the severity of the disease and the time since recovery. The most significant contribution to the formation of the adaptive immune response was established due to cellmediated cytotoxicity (CD8+, CD16+) and the activity of apoptotic processes (CD95+) both after 6 and 12 months and does not depend on the severity of the COVID-19. The adaptive immune response formed 6 months after COVID-19 with a high level of cell-mediated cytotoxicity and activity of apoptotic processes prevailing over lymphoproliferation persists after 12 months, which indicates a tense state of immune homeostasis.
Conclusion. In the examined women who had recovered from COVID-19, cellmediated cytotoxicity (CD8+, CD16+) is associated with the activation of the monocyte system, has a prolonged effect of up to 12 months and depends on the severity of the previous COVID-19 in 66.7–90 % of cases.

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