Dynamic and Spatial Transcriptional Responses in COVID-19-Related Chilblains

The study "220 Dynamic and spatial transcriptional responses in COVID-19-related chilblains" explored the underlying molecular mechanisms of COVID-related chilblains, also known as "COVID-toes", using spatially and temporally resolved transcriptomics. The study included 19 patients with COVID-toes and performed a complete virological assessment to exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection. The researchers observed a different transcriptional profile in COVID-toes compared to COVID-19 vaccine-related chilblains. Genes IRF1, CXCL10, ISG15, and STAT1 were highly expressed in COVID-toes and their expression decreased over time, confirming an activation of interferon and JAK/STAT pathways that was absent in vaccine-related chilblains. The proportion of inflammatory cell types varied over time in COVID-toes, with migratory dendritic cells present at early stages and T lymphocytes populations increasing later.