[PDF][PDF] Imbalanced host response to SARS-CoV-2 drives development of COVID-19

D Blanco-Melo, BE Nilsson-Payant, WC Liu, S Uhl… - Cell, 2020 - cell.com
Cell, 2020cell.com
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 …
Summary
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.
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