Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41535626›Full record

ArticleNature immunology2026

A distinct monocyte transcriptional state links systemic immune dysregulation to pulmonary impairment in long COVID.

Saumya Kumar, Chaofan Li, Liang Zhou, Qiuyao Zhan, Ahmed Alaswad, Sonja Volland, Bibiana Costa, Simon Alexander Krooss, Isabel Klefenz, Hagen Schmaus and 16 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. CROI 2026: Acute and Postacute COVID-19.Topics in antiviral medicine · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

26 authors.

Saumya KumarCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9481-1944
Chaofan LiBeirne B. Carter Centre for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5426-1498
Liang ZhouCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Qiuyao ZhanCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Ahmed AlaswadCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Sonja VollandHannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4324-2180
Bibiana CostaCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6126-6075
Simon Alexander KroossCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Isabel KlefenzDepartment of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-8223-2439
Hagen SchmausCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Antonia ZeuzemCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Dorothee von WitzendorffCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Helena LickeiCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Lea PueschelDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-6807-2615
Anke R M KraftCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9666-0753
Markus CornbergCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9141-8001
Andreas Rembert KoczullaInstitute for Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research, Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schönau am Königssee, Germany.
Isabell PinkDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Marius M HoeperDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9086-2293
Cheng-Jian XuCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Susanne HäusslerCluster of Excellence Resolving Infection Susceptibility (RESIST; EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Miriam WiestlerDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7644-1529
Mihai G NeteaDepartment of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2421-6052
Thomas IlligHannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
Jie SunBeirne B. Carter Centre for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2347-4511
Yang LiCentre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany. yang.li@helmholtz-hzi.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4022-7341

Funding

Host cellular network governing the development of post SARS-CoV-2 tissue sequelaeR01AI147394 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI Jie Sun · 2020 to 2026
$4.7M
Elucidating the roles of alveolar macrophage inflammation and selfrenewal during influenza infectionR01AG069264 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI Jie Sun · 2020 to 2026
$3.5M
Determinants of Convalescent and Vaccine-induced Mucosal Specific Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern in Children with AsthmaR01AI176171 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI Jie Sun, WILLIAM GERALD TEAGUE · 2023 to 2026
$2.7M
Uncover mechanisms underlying the development of chronic lung sequelae post COVID-19R01HL170961 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI Jie Sun, ROBERT VASSALLO · 2023 to 2026
$2.7M
CD38, T cells and post viral lung sequelae during agingR01AG090337 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · PI Jie Sun · 2025 to 2026
$1.3M
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) 01EQ2302A, 031L0318A, ZN4257EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) 948207NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL170961NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI147394NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI176171NIA NIH HHS R01 AG069264NIA NIH HHS R01 AG090337Niedersächsische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture) 14-76403-184U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) AG069264, AI147394, HL170961, AI176171, AG090337
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The mechanisms driving immune dysregulation in long COVID disease remain elusive. Here we integrated single-cell multiome data, immunological profiling and functional assays to investigate immune alterations across multiple cohorts. A transcriptional state in circulating monocytes (LC-Mo) was enriched in individuals with mild-moderate acute infection and accompanied by persistent elevations of plasma CCL2, CXCL11 and TNF. LC-Mo showed TGFβ and WNT-β-catenin signaling and correlated with fatigue severity. Protein markers of LC-Mo were increased in individuals with pronounced fatigue or dyspnea, and those with severe respiratory symptoms showed higher LC-Mo expression. Epigenetically, LC-Mo exhibited AP-1- and NF-κB1-driven profibrotic programs. LC-Mo-like macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from individuals with severe respiratory symptoms displayed a profibrotic profile, and individuals with a high LC-Mo transcriptional state showed impaired interferon responses after stimulation. Collectively, our findings define a pathogenic monocyte transcriptional state linking systemic immune dysfunction to persistent long COVID disease, providing mechanistic insights and potential therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

COVID-19LungMonocytesSARS-CoV-2Bronchoalveolar Lavage FluidFemaleHumansMacrophagesMaleMiddle AgedPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeTranscription, Genetic

Identifiers

PMID41535626
PMCPMC12864029

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.