Potential role of AIM2 inflammasome in SARS-CoV-2 infection

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The disease presents different degrees of severity related to the antiviral response of the host. According to clinical manifestations, patients could show mild, moderate and severe COVID-19. Regarding immunological aspects, an increased interferon (IFN) response in COVID-19 patients with mild and moderate symptoms were observed;however, in severe COVID-19, IFN response is decreased. Patients with severe COVID-19 display a hyperinflammatory disorder that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Interestingly, the expression and activation of AIM2, a receptor induced by IFN, play an important role in the onset of antiviral response. In this review, we discuss the possible role of AIM2 during SARS-CoV-2 infection. We summarize the studies reporting the expression and activity of proteins involved upstream and downstream of AIM2-inflammasome activation, such as IFN, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1 beta, IL-18, free-dsDNA, IFI16, as well as SARS-CoV-2 viral load, cell death in groups of COVID-19 patients with different clinical outcomes to infer the possible contribution of AIM2 in antiviral response of SARS-CoV-2 infection.