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.