New research from the Crnic Institute suggests several Down Syndrome features may be linked to a hyperactive antiviral immune response.

This “Perspective” outlines why individuals with Down Syndrome should be considered an at-risk population for severe COVID-19. Specifically, the immune dysregulation caused by trisomy 21 may result in an exacerbated cytokine release syndrome relative to that observed in the typical euploid population, thus justifying additional monitoring and specialized care for this vulnerable population.

This study used mass cytometry to create a scientific ‘map’ of the immune system. Then, scientists compared the immune system maps of people with Down syndrome to those without and found that, on average, people with Down syndrome have dysregulation in every detected branch of their immune system…..

This project took a deep dive into the T cell biology of people with Down syndrome. T cells are an important cell in the immune system. There are numerous types and subtypes of T cells, each with specific functions in the immune response. For example, “cytotoxic T cells” kill dangerous cells infected by virus or from tumors…..

In this study, our scientists measured 91 metabolites using mass spectrometry and compared the levels of each metabolite in people with Down syndrome to those without. They found 29 metabolites whose levels were significantly altered in people with Down syndrome. The metabolite that was most significantly elevated was quinolinic acid…..