title: Coronavirus Infections in the Central Nervous System and Respiratory Tract Show Distinct Features in Hospitalized Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronavirus (CoV) infections induce respiratory tract illnesses and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. We aimed to explore the cytokine expression profiles in hospitalized children with CoV-CNS and CoV-respiratory tract infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 183 and 236 hospitalized children with acute encephalitis-like syndrome and respiratory tract infection, respectively, were screened for anti-CoV IgM antibodies. The expression profiles of multiple cytokines were determined in CoV-positive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-CoV IgM antibodies were detected in 22/183 (12.02%) and 26/236 (11.02%) patients with acute encephalitis-like syndrome and respiratory tract infection, respectively. Cytokine analysis revealed that the level of serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was significantly higher in both CoV-CNS and CoV-respiratory tract infection compared with healthy controls. Additionally, the serum level of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was significantly higher in CoV-CNS infection than in CoV-respiratory tract infection. In patients with CoV-CNS infection, the levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and GM-CSF were significantly higher in their cerebrospinal fluid samples than in matched serum samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing a high incidence of CoV infection in hospitalized children, especially with CNS illness. The characteristic cytokine expression profiles in CoV infection indicate the importance of host immune response in disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haipeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ruyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Chengwu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhanyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Shuochi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xinjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Xiaowang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Renbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wenpei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020805:Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000276:immunology; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor