Biological activity of interferons in the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19

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Abstract

Introduction. The immunopathogenesis of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 is usually associated with the development of imbalance in the immune response to its causative agent, SARS-CoV-2 virus (Coronaviridae: Coronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus). This is manifested, in particular, by interferons’ (IFNs) deficiency at the beginning of the disease followed by hyperproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The virus causes a decrease in IFN types I (α/β) and III (λ) levels; changes in IFN type II (γ) are less studied. In this regard, it is relevant to assess the functional bioactive IFN (interferon status) in COVID-19. The aim of the study was to assess the antiviral potential of the body by testing the biologically active IFNs in COVID-19.

Material and methods. We used biological serum samples of COVID-19 patients taken in the acute phase (110 patients on the 1–5 days of the disease) and during rehabilitation (47 patients during 1–3 months after the disease onset). Assessment of interferon status was performed according to the technique developed by the authors and described earlier.

Results. The IFN status of patients with COVID-19 in the acute period and in the phase of post-infection rehabilitation was studied during the observation period. It was found that SARS-CoV-2 causes a pronounced inhibition of biological activity of IFN types I and II compared to the reference values by more than 20 and 7 times, respectively. During the post-COVID period, incomplete recovery of the IFN system activity was registered, which proceeded very slowly. No cases of reaching physiological indicators of interferon status were identified during the observation period.

Conclusion. The obtained data on deficiency of the functional biologically active IFN confirm the hypothesis about the predominant role of impaired IFN production of different types in the immunopathogenesis of the novel coronavirus infection.

About the authors

T. P. Ospelnikova

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»; National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya

Author for correspondence.
Email: ospelnikovat@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1580-6096

Tatiana Рetrovna Ospelnikova, PhD (Medicine), Head of interferons laboratory

Moscow, 105064, Malyi Kazennyi pereulok, 5a

 

Russian Federation

D. S. Levitskaya

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: dyna-s@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4316-1237

Dina Sagitovna Levitskaya -  PhD (Medicine), Senior Researcher of interferons laboratory 

Moscow, 105064

Russian Federation

L. V. Kolodyazhnaya

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»; National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya

Email: 4583103@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6725-2219

Larisa Vasil'evna Kolodyazhnaya - laboratory assistant-researcher of interferons laboratory 

 Moscow, 105064

Russian Federation

A. D. Shitova

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: countess.iris@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0787-6251

Anna Denisovna Shitova -  Research laboratory assistant of interferons laboratory

Moscow

Russian Federation

V. N. Osiptsov

FSBHI «Main Military Clinical Hospital of the National Guard of the Russian Federation»

Email: valeraosiptsov@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1027-7620

Valery Nikolaevich Osiptsov - Senior therapist, The Main Military Clinical Hospital 

Balashikha, 143915

Russian Federation

L. R. Arifullina

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: arifullinalidiya@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4787-324X

Lidiya Rufanovna Arifullina - Research laboratory assistant of Molecular Immunology 

105064, Malyi Kazennyi pereulok,5a

Russian Federation

N. O. Kryukova

FSAEI HE Pirogov Russian National Medical University of the Ministry of the Health of Russia (Pirogov Medical
University)

Email: kryukovanadia@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8167-0959

Nadezhda Olegovna Kryukova - PhD student, Department of hospital therapy, Pediatric faculty

Moscow, 117997 Ostrovityanova street, 1

Russian Federation

D. V. Pakhomov

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: dm_pachomov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4073-6085

Dmitry Vladimirovich Pakhomov - PhD (Medicine), Senior Researcher Laboratory of vaccine prevention and immunotherapy 

Moscow, 105064 Malyi Kazennyi pereulok, 5a

Russian Federation

E. A. Khromova

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: kate.khromova@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4003-9976

Ekaterina Alexandrovna Khromova - PhD (Medicine), Researcher, Laboratory of vaccine prevention and immunotherapy of allergic diseases

Moscow, 105064 Malyi Kazennyi pereulok, 5a

Russian Federation

I. A. Baranova

FSAEI HE Pirogov Russian National Medical University of the Ministry of the Health of Russia (Pirogov Medical
University)

Email: iribaranova@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2469-7346

Irina Aleksandrovna Baranova - Doctor of Med Sci, Professor; Department of Hospital Therapy

Moscow, 117997 Ostrovityanova street, 1

Russian Federation

A. G. Chuchalin

FSAEI HE Pirogov Russian National Medical University of the Ministry of the Health of Russia (Pirogov Medical
University)

Email: pulmomoskva@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6808-5528

Alexander Grigor'evich Chuchalin - Doctor of Med Sci, Professor, Academician of the RAS; Department of Hospital Therapy

Moscow, 117997 Ostrovityanova street

Russian Federation

M. P. Kostinov

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: monolit.96@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1382-9403

Mikhail Petrovich Kostinov– Doctor of Med Sci, Professor, head of the Allergic Diseases Vaccinal Prevention and an Immunotherapy Laboratory

119991, Trubetskaya str., 8, bld. 2

Russian Federation

O. A. Svitich

FSBRI «I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera»

Email: svitichoa@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1757-8389

Oxana Anatol'evna Svitich - Corresponding member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Med Sci, Director

Moscow, 105064, Malyi Kazennyi pereulok, 5a

Russian Federation

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Copyright (c) 2022 Ospelnikova T.P., Levitskaya D.S., Kolodyazhnaya L.V., Shitova A.D., Osiptsov V.N., Arifullina L.R., Kryukova N.O., Pakhomov D.V., Khromova E.A., Baranova I.A., Chuchalin A.G., Kostinov M.P., Svitich O.A.

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