Interferon gamma, TGF-β1 and RANTES expression in upper airway samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract is the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Releasing of pro and anti-inflammatory mediators plays an important role in the immunopathogenesis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to evaluate the early inflammatory response in upper airway by measuring of IFN-γ, TGF-β1 and RANTES at mRNA level. Forty five SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were enrolled, whose were divided in two groups: asymptomatic and symptomatic. Twenty healthy persons, SARS-CoV-2 negative were included as controls. Higher IFN-γ expression was detected in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in comparison with controls ( p = 0.0393). IFN-γ expression was increased in symptomatic patients ( p = 0.0405). TGF-β1 and RANTES expressions were lower in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients than controls ( p < 0.0001; p = 0.0011, respectively). A significant correlation between IFN-γ and TGF-β1 was observed in SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic patients (r = +0.61, p = 0.0014). The findings suggest that imbalance between IFN-γ and TGF-β1 expression could be an impact in clinical expression of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Exploration and validation of related hub gene expression during SARS-CoV-2 infection of human bronchial organoids

“…There are several highly interacting genes in the PPI network, such as CXCL1, EGF, CXCL10, CXCL8, CCL5, and what calls for special attention is that CCL5 levels decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), whose data is form GSE150728, the dataset we used for electronic validation of hub gene. However, CCL5 was repeatedly reported to be increased in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 [ 28 ], which supported the result we get from hBO. The unique inflammatory chemokine CCL5 (RANTES) induced at a later phase of inflammation guides white blood cells to migrate into inflammatory lesions during varied pathological processes and maintains local immune cells [ 29 ].…”

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Inflammatory Response in a Twin Pregnancy

“…First, the mother was reported to have mild cholestasis of pregnancy, a condition associated with higher values of TNFa, IL1b, and Il-6 in the sera, and lower values of IL-4 and IL-10 [ 31 , 32 ]. Although expected, these current findings are counterbalanced by downregulation of IFNγ expression, which is reported as a hallmark of the antiviral response even in SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 33 ], being higher in pregnancy cholestasis [ 31 ] and more significant in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 [ 34 ], as suggested in other reports [ 24 , 35 ]. On the other hand, IFNγ expression, along with IFN-α and IL-2 has been shown to be lower during influenza epidemic in pregnant women, when compared with nonpregnant women [ 36 ].…”

Severe type 2 leprosy reaction with COVID-19 with a favourable outcome despite continued use of corticosteroids and methotrexate and a hypothesis on the possible immunological consequences

“…In our case, with the combined use of methotrexate and oral prednisolone, the patient suffered from only mild symptoms of COVID-19. It is worthwhile mentioning here that T2LRs are associated with a heightened INF-γ mediated inflammatory response; considering the important role of this cytokine in clearance of SARS-CoV-2, it is possible that T2LR patients may have a natural protection against severe COVID-19 infection ( Khurana and Sardana, 2020 , Montalvo Villalba et al, 2020 ). A gradual decrease in INF-γ production with prednisolone (40 mg) has been reported to occur over first 2–3 weeks of treatment in leprosy reactions and thus it is plausible that the levels of INF-γ may still have been sufficiently high to effect viral clearance ( Manandhar et al,2002 ).…”