Interferon-λ treatment accelerates SARS-CoV-2 clearance despite age-related delays in the induction of T cell immunity.
Nat Commun
; 13(1): 6992, 2022 Nov 16.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2119412
ABSTRACT
Interferons induced early after SARS-CoV-2 infection are crucial for shaping immunity and preventing severe COVID-19. We previously demonstrated that injection of pegylated interferon-lambda accelerated viral clearance in COVID-19 patients (NCT04354259). To determine if the viral decline is mediated by enhanced immunity, we assess in vivo responses to interferon-lambda by single cell RNA sequencing and measure SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell and antibody responses between placebo and interferon-lambda-treated patients. Here we show that interferon-lambda treatment induces interferon stimulated genes in peripheral immune cells expressing IFNLR1, including plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B cells. Interferon-lambda does not affect SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels or the magnitude of virus-specific T cells. However, we identify delayed T cell responses in older adults, suggesting that interferon-lambda can overcome delays in adaptive immunity to accelerate viral clearance in high-risk patients. Altogether, interferon-lambda offers an early COVID-19 treatment option for outpatients to boost innate antiviral defenses without dampening peripheral adaptive immunity.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Interferons
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Science
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41467-022-34709-4
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