Helping the body overcome SARS-CoV-2

Date:
February 14, 2022
Source:
Ruhr-University Bochum
Summary:
Interferons are the host's first line of defense against infections.

Different subtypes of these messenger substances have different
effects.

Researchers showed which subtypes are most effective against
SARS-CoV-2.

The researchers not only elucidated the principles underlying the
host's defense mechanisms against the virus, but also presented
potential alternative treatment options for high-risk patients in
the early stages of an infection.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Interferons are the host's first line of defence against
infections. Different subtypes of these messenger substances have
different effects. A research team from Bochum and Essen showed which
subtypes are most effective against SARS- CoV-2. The researchers not
only elucidated the principles underlying the host's defence mechanisms
against the virus, but also presented potential alternative treatment
options for high-risk patients in the early stages of an infection.


==========================================================================
A team headed by Professor Stephanie Pfa"nder from the Department of
Molecular and Medical Virology at Ruhr-Universita"t Bochum and Dr. Kathrin Sutter from the Institute of Virology at the University Hospital Essen published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences on 22 February 2022 online first.

Clinical potential not yet fully explored As messenger substances,
interferons stimulate various responses of immune cells and play a key
role in activating the immune system. They are proven active agents
against various diseases, especially type I interferon alpha 2, which
has been widely used against hepatitis C and B. "However, there are
different subtypes of interferons whose clinical potential has not yet
been fully explored," points out Stephanie Pfa"nder.

The researchers comprehensively analysed the cellular response to these
IFN subtypes. Using transcriptome analyses, it was possible to identify
key IFN- stimulated genes which were differentially regulated after
exposure to a specific interferon. Their information is translated into proteins. Proteome analyses showed how the protein expression in primary
lung cells changes after the stimulation with different interferons. The researchers refer to the cellular reaction caused by the interferon
subtypes as immune signature.

Certain subtypes elicit particularly effective immune response "We showed
that certain interferon-alpha subtypes are highly effective against SARS-CoV-2," states Kathrin Sutter. "The antiviral activity of the
different subtypes varies considerably." For example, the alpha-5 subtype elicited a particularly effective immune signature against the virus. The antiviral effect that the researchers measured in cell culture increased
even more significantly when combined with the antiviral drug remdesivir.

"Our study allows us to draw conclusions about which induced proteins
and genes are particularly important in the fight against Sars-Cov-2,"
stresses Stephanie Pfa"nder. In addition, the findings may offer an
alternative in the treatment of Covid-19 patients through the early administration of specific interferon alpha subtypes with a strong
antiviral effect.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Ruhr-University_Bochum. Original
written by Meike Driessen; translated by Donata Zuber. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jonas Schuhenn, Toni Luise Meister, Daniel Todt, Thilo Bracht, Karin
Schork, Jean-Noel Billaud, Carina Elsner, Natalie Heinen, Zehra
Karakoese, Sibylle Haid, Sriram Kumar, Linda Brunotte, Martin
Eisenacher, Yunyun Di, Jocelyne Lew, Darryl Falzarano, Jieliang
Chen, Zhenghong Yuan, Thomas Pietschmann, Bettina Wiegmann,
Hendrik Uebner, Christian Taube, Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling,
Mirko Trilling, Adalbert Krawczyk, Stephan Ludwig, Barbara Sitek,
Eike Steinmann, Ulf Dittmer, Kerry J. Lavender, Kathrin Sutter,
Stephanie Pfaender. Differential interferon-a subtype induced
immune signatures are associated with suppression of SARS-CoV-
2 infection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
2022; 119 (8): e2111600119 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2111600119 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220214095754.htm

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