During COVID-19, dysregulated immune response is the key factor leading to unfavorable outcome. Depending on the pathogen-associated-molecular-pattern, the NLRP3 inflammasome can play a crucial role during innate immunity activation. To determine Caspase-1 activation levels in multiple blood myeloid cells, the inventors used the FAM-FLICA® Caspase-1 Assay together with CD45, CD14, CD66b and CD16 cell markers in the whole blood of patients. Caspase-1 activation in CD66b+CD16dim cells was lower in severe and critical presentation of COVID-19 as well as the number of cell having cell surface expression of CD14dim CD16+ markers.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to method for assessing a subject’s risk of having or developing a mild, severe or critical coronavirus infection, comprising the steps of i) determining in a sample obtained from the subject the level of caspase-1 activation in myeloid cells having cell surface expression of CD66b+ CD16dim markers and/or the number of cell having cell surface expression of CD14dim CD16+ markers, ii) comparing the level and/or the number determined in step i) with a reference value and iii) concluding when the level of caspase-1 activation in myeloid cells having cell surface expression of CD66b+ CD16dim markers and/or the number of cell having cell surface expression of CD14dim CD16+ markers determined at step i) is lower than the reference value is predictive of a high risk of having or developing severe or critical form of coronavirus infection.