Viral infections of the lower respiratory tract are a leading cause of mortality. Mounting evidence indicates that most severe cases are characterized by aberrant immune responses and do not depend on viral burden. In this study, we assessed how type III interferons (IFN-l) contribute to the pathogenesis induced by RNA viruses. We report that IFN-l is present in the lower, but not upper, airways of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In mice, we demonstrate that IFN-l produced by lung dendritic cells in response to a synthetic viral RNA induces barrier damage, causing susceptibility to lethal bacterial superinfections. These findings provide a strong rationale for rethinking the pathophysiological role of IFN-l and its possible use in clinical practice against endemic viruses, such as influenza virus as well as the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Broggi, A., Ghosh, S., Sposito, B., Spreafico, R., Balzarini, F., Lo Cascio, A., et al. (2020). Type III interferons disrupt the lung epithelial barrier upon viral recognition. SCIENCE, 369(6504), 706-712 [10.1126/science.abc3545].

Type III interferons disrupt the lung epithelial barrier upon viral recognition

Broggi, Achille
Co-primo
;
Sposito, Benedetta
Co-primo
;
Granucci, Francesca;Zanoni, Ivan
2020

Abstract

Viral infections of the lower respiratory tract are a leading cause of mortality. Mounting evidence indicates that most severe cases are characterized by aberrant immune responses and do not depend on viral burden. In this study, we assessed how type III interferons (IFN-l) contribute to the pathogenesis induced by RNA viruses. We report that IFN-l is present in the lower, but not upper, airways of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In mice, we demonstrate that IFN-l produced by lung dendritic cells in response to a synthetic viral RNA induces barrier damage, causing susceptibility to lethal bacterial superinfections. These findings provide a strong rationale for rethinking the pathophysiological role of IFN-l and its possible use in clinical practice against endemic viruses, such as influenza virus as well as the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
interferons
English
2020
369
6504
706
712
open
Broggi, A., Ghosh, S., Sposito, B., Spreafico, R., Balzarini, F., Lo Cascio, A., et al. (2020). Type III interferons disrupt the lung epithelial barrier upon viral recognition. SCIENCE, 369(6504), 706-712 [10.1126/science.abc3545].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
10281-280298_VoR.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 891.83 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
891.83 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/280298
Citazioni
  • Scopus 275
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 265
Social impact