Dominant CT Patterns and Immune Responses during the Early Infection Phases of Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Abstract

Ground-glass opacity (GGO) and organizing pneumonia (OP) are dominant pulmonary CT lesions associated with COVID-19. However, the role of different immune responses in these CT patterns remains unclear, particularly following the emergence of the Omicron variant. In this prospective observational study, we recruited patients hospitalized with COVID-19, before and after the emergence of Omicron variants. Semi-quantitative CT scores and dominant CT patterns were retrospectively determined for all patients within five days of symptom onset. Serum levels of IFN-α, IL-6, CXCL10, and VEGF were assessed using ELISA. Serum-neutralizing activity was measured using a pseudovirus assay. We enrolled 48 patients with Omicron variants and 137 with precedent variants. While the frequency of GGO patterns was similar between the two groups, the OP pattern was significantly more frequent in patients with precedent variants. In patients with precedent variants, IFN-α and CXCL10 levels were strongly correlated with GGO, whereas neutralizing activity and VEGF were correlated with OP. The correlation between IFN-α levels and CT scores was lower in patients with Omicron than in those with precedent variants. Compared to preceding variants, infection with the Omicron variant is characterized by a less frequent OP pattern and a weaker correlation between serum IFN-α and CT scores.