Imbalanced Host Response to SARS-CoV-2 Drives Development of COVID-19. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Viral pandemics, such as the one caused by SARS-CoV-2, pose an imminent threat to humanity. Because of its recent emergence, there is a paucity of information regarding viral behavior and host response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we offer an in-depth analysis of the transcriptional response to SARS-CoV-2 compared with other respiratory viruses. Cell and animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, in addition to transcriptional and serum profiling of COVID-19 patients, consistently revealed a unique and inappropriate inflammatory response. This response is defined by low levels of type I and III interferons juxtaposed to elevated chemokines and high expression of IL-6. We propose that reduced innate antiviral defenses coupled with exuberant inflammatory cytokine production are the defining and driving features of COVID-19.

publication date

  • May 15, 2020

Research

keywords

  • Betacoronavirus
  • Coronavirus Infections
  • Pneumonia, Viral
  • RNA Viruses

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC7227586

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85084438244

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/s41586-020-2196-x

PubMed ID

  • 32416070

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 181

issue

  • 5