Inhibition of p38 signaling curtails the SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammatory response but retains the IFN-dependent antiviral defense of the lung epithelial barrier.

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the immune response-driven disease COVID-19 for which new antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatments are urgently needed to reduce recovery time, risk of death and long COVID development. Here, we demonstrate that the immunoregulatory kinase p38 MAPK is activated during viral entry, mediated by the viral spike protein, and drives the harmful virus-induced inflammatory responses. Using primary human lung explants and lung epithelial organoids, we demonstrate that targeting p38 signal transduction with the selective and clinically pre-evaluated inhibitors PH-797804 and VX-702 markedly reduced the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6, CXCL8, CXCL10 and TNF-α during infection, while viral replication and the interferon-mediated antiviral response of the lung epithelial barrier were largely maintained. Furthermore, our results reveal a high level of drug synergism of both p38 inhibitors in co-treatments with the nucleoside analogs Remdesivir and Molnupiravir to suppress viral replication of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, revealing an exciting and novel mode of synergistic action of p38 inhibition. These results open new avenues for the improvement of the current treatment strategies for COVID-19.

3D Ex vivo tissue platforms to investigate the early phases of influenza a virus- and SARS-CoV-2-induced respiratory diseases.

Pandemic outbreaks of viruses such as influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2 are associated with high morbidity and mortality and thus pose a massive threat to global health and economics. Physiologically relevant models are needed to study the viral life cycle, describe the pathophysiological consequences of viral infection, and explore possible drug targets and treatment options. While simple cell culture-based models do not reflect the tissue environment and systemic responses, animal models are linked with huge direct and indirect costs and ethical questions. Ex vivo platforms based on tissue explants have been introduced as suitable platforms to bridge the gap between cell culture and animal models. We established a murine lung tissue explant platform for two respiratory viruses, influenza A virus (IAV) and SARS-CoV-2. We observed efficient viral replication, associated with the release of inflammatory cytokines and the induction of an antiviral interferon response, comparable to ex vivo infection in human lung explants. Endolysosomal entry could be confirmed as a potential host target for pharmacological intervention, and the potential repurposing potentials of fluoxetine and interferons for host-directed therapy previously seen in vitro could be recapitulated in the ex vivo model.

A Phase I/II Study of Twice Weekly Ixazomib Plus Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Results from Phase I Dose Escalation Cohorts

Introduction: Treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) continues to evolve as most patients are lenalidomide (LEN) refractory at the time of first relapse with its widespread use in both induction and maintenance therapy. Pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone in RRMM has demonstrated significant activity and improvement in progression-free survival in LEN-refractory patients (Richardson et al Lancet Oncol 2019 Jun;20(6):781-794). Ixazomib is a novel oral proteasome inhibitor (PI) that is currently approved in combination with LEN and dexamethasone in RRMM. Ixazomib is administered on a once weekly schedule and its oral route of administration is particularly attractive, not least in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Twice weekly dosing of ixazomib has been studied in combination with LEN demonstrating promising activity in NDMM (Richardson et al, Br J Haematol. 2018 Jul;182(2):231-244). Moreover, safety and efficacy has been shown in RRMM as twice weekly monotherapy on this schedule (Richardson et al, Blood 2014 Aug 14;124(7):1038-46). We hypothesized that a twice weekly ixazomib schedule in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone will lead to enhanced efficacy and comparable safety in RRMM. Methods: This is a phase I/II multicenter, single-arm, open label study evaluating the combination of twice weekly ixazomib with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in RRMM. Primary objective for phase I portion is to determine safety and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of this combination using a standard 3+3 dose escalation design. Ixazomib is studied at doses of 3mg or 4mg on days 1, 4, 8, 11, pomalidomide at a dose of 2mg, 3mg and 4mg on days 1-14 and dexamethasone is administered at a dose of 12mg on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 (8mg for patients > 75 years old) on a 21 day cycle (Table 1). Patients were included if they received 2 prior lines of therapy, but 1 prior line was allowed if first line treatment included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and disease relapse occurred within 60 days of last therapy. Patients who received prior ixazomib were excluded. Results: At the time of data cutoff, 12 patients have been enrolled across cohorts 0, 1 and 2 and enrollment in the final cohort 3 is ongoing. Median age at the time of enrollment was 70 years old with slight male predominance (58%). ISS stage at diagnosis was II or greater in 75% of patients and 9 out of 12 (75%) patients had high-risk FISH as follows: del 17p (17%), gain 1q (50%), and t(4;14) (8%). Median prior lines of therapy was 2 (range 1-3) with 100% of patients having prior treatment with lenalidomide and 92% with prior bortezomib. Forty-two percent of patients had a prior autologous stem cell transplant. Most common treatment-related toxicities were mainly low grade and included neutropenia (58%), hyperglycemia (42%), fatigue (33%), anemia (25%), thrombocytopenia (25%), and rash (25%). Grade 3 or greater toxicities included neutropenia (17%), anemia (8%), bacterial lung infection (8%), and atrial fibrillation (8%). There was 1 dose limiting toxicity (DLT) in cohort 2 due to lung infection necessitating a delay in initiation of cycle 2 and no further DLTs have been noted. Dose reductions occurred in 4 patients and predominantly involved dexamethasone due to weight gain, insomnia, atrial fibrillation and fatigue. There have been no discontinuations due to toxicity and no treatment related mortality at the time of data cutoff. In response evaluable patients, 5 out of 12 patients have demonstrated a partial response or better (42%), with 1 very good partial response (VGPR) and all patients at least achieving stable disease. Conclusions: Twice weekly ixazomib in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone is a generally well-tolerated regimen with promising early activity in a high-risk RRMM cohort. Maximal tolerated dose and recommend phase II dose has not yet been reached and this study continues to accrue robustly, reflecting in part the convenience and safety of an all oral approach in the current era of COVID-19 Moreover, the ability to perform remote laboratory testing, telemedicine visits and to send medications directly to patients has been an additional value-add to this trial. Updated data will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures Nadeem:Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Amgen: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Adaptive: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES;Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES. Mo:Celgene: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Barth:Sanofi: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sanchorawala:Takeda: Research Funding;Celgene: Research Funding;Prothena: Research Funding;Caelum: Research Funding;Oncopeptide: Research Funding;Regeneron: Other: advisory board;Caleum: Other: advisory board;Proclara: Other: advisory board;Abbvie: Other: advisory board;UpToDate: Patents & Royalties;Janssen: Research Funding. Munshi:BMS: Consultancy;OncoPep: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties;C4: Current equity holder in private company;Janssen: Consultancy;Adaptive: Consultancy;Legend: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy;Karyopharm: Consultancy;Takeda: Consultancy. Ghobrial:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria;GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy;Genentech: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Noxxon Pharma: Consultancy;Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Honoraria;Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria;Cellectar: Honoraria;Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria;GNS Healthcare: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria;Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria;AbbVie: Consultancy;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Anderson:Oncopep and C4 Therapeutics.: Other: Scientific Founder of Oncopep and C4 Therapeutics.;Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sanofi-Aventis: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Janssen: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Gilead: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Millenium-Takeda: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Richardson:Celgene/BMS, Oncopeptides, Takeda, Karyopharm: Research Funding.

Seroconversion and outcomes after initial and booster COVID-19 vaccination in adults with hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hematologic malignancies have impaired humoral immunity secondary to their malignancy and its treatment, placing them at risk of severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection and reduced response to vaccination. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed serologic responses to initial and booster COVID-19 vaccination in 378 patients with hematologic malignancy and subsequently tracked COVID-19-related outcomes. RESULTS: Seroconversion occurred in 181 patients (48%) after initial vaccination; patients who had active malignancy or those who were recently treated with a B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibody had the lowest rates of seroconversion. For initial nonresponders to vaccination, seroconversion after a booster dose occurred in 48 of 85 patients (56%). The seroconversion rate after the booster was similar for patients on (53%) and off (58%) active therapy (p = .82). Thirty-three patients (8.8%) developed a COVID-19 infection, and there were three COVID-19-related deaths (0.8%). Although no significant association was observed between postvaccination seroconversion and the incidence of COVID-19 infection, no patient with seroconversion died from COVID-19, and no patient who received tixagevimab/cilgavimab (N = 25) was diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Booster vaccinations can promote seroconversion in a significant proportion of patients who are seronegative after the initial vaccination course regardless of the specific vaccine or on/off treatment status at the time of revaccination. Although postvaccination seroconversion may not be associated with a decrease in any (including asymptomatic) COVID-19 infection, the authors' experience suggested that effective vaccination (including a booster), supplemented by passive immunization using tixagevimab/cilgavimab in case of lack of seroconversion, effectively eliminated the risk of COVID-19 death in the otherwise high-risk population. LAY SUMMARY: Patients with hematologic malignancy, especially lymphoma, have an impaired response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. In this single-institution review, less than one half of the patients studied made detectable antibodies. For those who did not make detectable antibodies after initial vaccination, over one half (65%) were able to produce antibodies after booster vaccination. By the end of February 2022, 33 of the original 378 patients had a documented COVID-19 infection. The only deaths from COVID-19 were in those who had undetectable antibodies, and no patient who received prophylactic antibody therapy developed a COVID-19 infection.

Organ manifestations of COVID-19: what have we learned so far (not only) from autopsies?

The use of autopsies in medicine has been declining. The COVID-19 pandemic has documented and rejuvenated the importance of autopsies as a tool of modern medicine. In this review, we discuss the various autopsy techniques, the applicability of modern analytical methods to understand the pathophysiology of COVID-19, the major pathological organ findings, limitations or current studies, and open questions. This article summarizes published literature and the consented experience of the nationwide network of clinical, neuro-, and forensic pathologists from 27 German autopsy centers with more than 1200 COVID-19 autopsies. The autopsy tissues revealed that SARS-CoV-2 can be found in virtually all human organs and tissues, and the majority of cells. Autopsies have revealed the organ and tissue tropism of SARS-CoV-2, and the morphological features of COVID-19. This is characterized by diffuse alveolar damage, combined with angiocentric disease, which in turn is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, (micro-) thrombosis, vasoconstriction, and intussusceptive angiogenesis. These findings explained the increased pulmonary resistance in COVID-19 and supported the recommendations for antithrombotic treatment in COVID-19. In contrast, in extra-respiratory organs, pathological changes are often nonspecific and unclear to which extent these changes are due to direct infection vs. indirect/secondary mechanisms of organ injury, or a combination thereof. Ongoing research using autopsies aims at answering questions on disease mechanisms, e.g., focusing on variants of concern, and future challenges, such as post-COVID conditions. Autopsies are an invaluable tool in medicine and national and international interdisciplinary collaborative autopsy-based research initiatives are essential.