Differential induction of type I and III interferon genes in the upper respiratory tract of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
01 Pubblicazione su rivista
Scagnolari Carolina, Pierangeli Alessandra, Frasca Federica, Bitossi Camilla, Viscido Agnese, Oliveto Giuseppe, Scordio Mirko, Mazzuti Laura, Di Carlo Daniele, Gentile Massimo, Solimini Angelo, Ceccarelli Giancarlo, Pugliese Francesco, Mastroianni Claudio Maria, d'Ettorre Gabriella, Turriziani Ombretta, Antonelli Guido
ISSN: 0168-1702
The natural course of type I and III interferon (IFN) response in the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients needs to be better defined. We showed that type I/III IFNs, IFN-regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7), and IFN stimulated genes (ISGs), are highly expressed in the oropharyngeal cells of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients compared to healthy controls. Notably, the subgroup of critically-ill patients that required invasive mechanical ventilation had a general decrease in expression of IFN/ISG genes. Heterogeneous patterns of IFN-I/III response in the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients may be associated to COVID-19 severity.