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El-Fakharany EM, El-Gendi H, Saleh AK, El-Sayed MH, Alalawy AI, Jame R, Abdelaziz MA, Alshareef SA, El-Maradny YA. The use of proteins and peptides-based therapy in managing and preventing pathogenic viruses. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:132254. [PMID: 38729501 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic proteins have been employed for centuries and reached approximately 50 % of all drugs investigated. By 2023, they represented one of the top 10 largest-selling pharma products ($387.03 billion) and are anticipated to reach around $653.35 billion by 2030. Growth hormones, insulin, and interferon (IFN α, γ, and β) are among the leading applied therapeutic proteins with a higher market share. Protein-based therapies have opened new opportunities to control various diseases, including metabolic disorders, tumors, and viral outbreaks. Advanced recombinant DNA biotechnology has offered the production of therapeutic proteins and peptides for vaccination, drugs, and diagnostic tools. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression host systems, including bacterial, fungal, animal, mammalian, and plant cells usually applied for recombinant therapeutic proteins large-scale production. However, several limitations face therapeutic protein production and applications at the commercial level, including immunogenicity, integrity concerns, protein stability, and protein degradation under different circumstances. In this regard, protein-engineering strategies such as PEGylation, glycol-engineering, Fc-fusion, albumin conjugation, and fusion, assist in increasing targeting, product purity, production yield, functionality, and the half-life of therapeutic protein circulation. Therefore, a comprehensive insight into therapeutic protein research and findings pave the way for their successful implementation, which will be discussed in the current review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmail M El-Fakharany
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute GEBRI, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA city), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt; Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industries Development Centre (PFIDC), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Hamada El-Gendi
- Bioprocess Development Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA city), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
| | - Ahmed K Saleh
- Cellulose and Paper Department, National Research Centre, El-Tahrir St., Dokki 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed H El-Sayed
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Arts, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel I Alalawy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rasha Jame
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud A Abdelaziz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Yousra A El-Maradny
- Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industries Development Centre (PFIDC), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt; Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Alamein 51718, Egypt
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2
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Huang B, Huang J, Chiang NH, Chen Z, Lui G, Ling L, Kwan MYW, Wong JSC, Mak PQ, Ling JWH, Lam ICS, Ng RWY, Wang X, Gao R, Hui DSC, Ma SL, Chan PKS, Tang NLS. Interferon response and profiling of interferon response genes in peripheral blood of vaccine-naive COVID-19 patients. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1315602. [PMID: 38268924 PMCID: PMC10806211 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1315602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is insufficient understanding on systemic interferon (IFN) responses during COVID-19 infection. Early reports indicated that interferon responses were suppressed by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and clinical trials of administration of various kinds of interferons had been disappointing. Expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood (better known as interferon score) has been a well-established bioassay marker of systemic IFN responses in autoimmune diseases. Therefore, with archival samples of a cohort of COVID-19 patients collected before the availability of vaccination, we aimed to better understand this innate immune response by studying the IFN score and related ISGs expression in bulk and single cell RNAs sequencing expression datasets. Methods In this study, we recruited 105 patients with COVID-19 and 30 healthy controls in Hong Kong. Clinical risk factors, disease course, and blood sampling times were recovered. Based on a set of five commonly used ISGs (IFIT1, IFIT2, IFI27, SIGLEC1, IFI44L), the IFN score was determined in blood leukocytes collected within 10 days after onset. The analysis was confined to those blood samples collected within 10 days after disease onset. Additional public datasets of bulk gene and single cell RNA sequencing of blood samples were used for the validation of IFN score results. Results Compared to the healthy controls, we showed that ISGs expression and IFN score were significantly increased during the first 10 days after COVID infection in majority of patients (71%). Among those low IFN responders, they were more commonly asymptomatic patients (71% vs 25%). 22 patients did not mount an overall significant IFN response and were classified as low IFN responders (IFN score < 1). However, early IFN score or ISGs level was not a prognostic biomarker and could not predict subsequent disease severity. Both IFI27 and SIGLEC1 were monocyte-predominant expressing ISGs and IFI27 were activated even among those low IFN responders as defined by IFN score. In conclusion, a substantial IFN response was documented in this cohort of COVID-19 patients who experience a natural infection before the vaccination era. Like innate immunity towards other virus, the ISGs activation was observed largely during the early course of infection (before day 10). Single-cell RNA sequencing data suggested monocytes were the cell-type that primarily accounted for the activation of two highly responsive ISGs (IFI44L and IFI27). Discussion As sampling time and age were two major confounders of ISG expression, they may account for contradicting observations among previous studies. On the other hand, the IFN score was not associated with the severity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baozhen Huang
- Department of Chemical Pathology, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jinghan Huang
- Department of Chemical Pathology, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nim Hang Chiang
- Department of Chemical Pathology, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zigui Chen
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Grace Lui
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lowell Ling
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mike Yat Wah Kwan
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joshua Sung Chih Wong
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Phoebe Qiaozhen Mak
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Janet Wan Hei Ling
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ivan Cheuk San Lam
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rita Wai Yin Ng
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xingyan Wang
- Department of Chemical Pathology, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ruonan Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - David Shu-Cheong Hui
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Suk Ling Ma
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Paul K. S. Chan
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nelson Leung Sang Tang
- Department of Chemical Pathology, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics and KIZ/CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Functional Genomics and Biostatistical Computing Laboratory, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
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Bostanghadiri N, Ziaeefar P, Mofrad MG, Yousefzadeh P, Hashemi A, Darban-Sarokhalil D. COVID-19: An Overview of SARS-CoV-2 Variants-The Current Vaccines and Drug Development. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:1879554. [PMID: 37674935 PMCID: PMC10480030 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1879554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The world is presently in crisis facing an outbreak of a health-threatening microorganism known as COVID-19, responsible for causing uncommon viral pneumonia in humans. The virus was first reported in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019, and it quickly became a global concern due to the pandemic. Challenges in this regard have been compounded by the emergence of several variants such as B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P1, and B.1.617, which show an increase in transmission power and resistance to therapies and vaccines. Ongoing researches are focused on developing and manufacturing standard treatment strategies and effective vaccines to control the pandemic. Despite developing several vaccines such as Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other vaccines in phase 4 clinical trials, preventive measures are mandatory to control the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, based on the latest findings, we will discuss different types of drugs as therapeutic options and confirmed or developing vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2. We also discuss in detail the challenges posed by the variants and their effect on therapeutic and preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narjess Bostanghadiri
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pardis Ziaeefar
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morvarid Golrokh Mofrad
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Parsa Yousefzadeh
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Hashemi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Darban-Sarokhalil
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Sacchi A, Giannessi F, Sabatini A, Percario ZA, Affabris E. SARS-CoV-2 Evasion of the Interferon System: Can We Restore Its Effectiveness? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119353. [PMID: 37298304 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I and III Interferons (IFNs) are the first lines of defense in microbial infections. They critically block early animal virus infection, replication, spread, and tropism to promote the adaptive immune response. Type I IFNs induce a systemic response that impacts nearly every cell in the host, while type III IFNs' susceptibility is restricted to anatomic barriers and selected immune cells. Both IFN types are critical cytokines for the antiviral response against epithelium-tropic viruses being effectors of innate immunity and regulators of the development of the adaptive immune response. Indeed, the innate antiviral immune response is essential to limit virus replication at the early stages of infection, thus reducing viral spread and pathogenesis. However, many animal viruses have evolved strategies to evade the antiviral immune response. The Coronaviridae are viruses with the largest genome among the RNA viruses. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The virus has evolved numerous strategies to contrast the IFN system immunity. We intend to describe the virus-mediated evasion of the IFN responses by going through the main phases: First, the molecular mechanisms involved; second, the role of the genetic background of IFN production during SARS-CoV-2 infection; and third, the potential novel approaches to contrast viral pathogenesis by restoring endogenous type I and III IFNs production and sensitivity at the sites of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sacchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antimicrobial Immunity, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Giannessi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antimicrobial Immunity, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sabatini
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antimicrobial Immunity, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Zulema Antonia Percario
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antimicrobial Immunity, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Affabris
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antimicrobial Immunity, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
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5
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Van der Sluis RM, Holm CK, Jakobsen MR. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells during COVID-19: Ally or adversary? Cell Rep 2022; 40:111148. [PMID: 35858624 PMCID: PMC9279298 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are specialized cells of the immune system that are thought to be the main cellular source of type I interferon alpha (IFNα) in response to viral infections. IFNs are powerful antivirals, whereas defects in their function or induction lead to impaired resistance to virus infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19. IFN production needs to be controlled, because sustained IFN production can also have detrimental effects on disease outcome. As such, pDCs are likely important for acute antiviral protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection but could potentially also contribute to chronic IFN levels. Here, we provide a historical overview of pDC biology and summarize existing literature addressing their involvement and importance during viral infections of the airways. Furthermore, we outline recent reports focused on the potential role of pDCs during SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the potential for this cellular subset to impact COVID-19 disease outcome.
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Ozcifci G, Aydin T, Atli Z, Balkan II, Tabak F, Oztas M, Ozguler Y, Ugurlu S, Hatemi G, Melikoglu M, Fresko I, Hamuryudan V, Seyahi E. The incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of COVID-19 in a prospectively followed cohort of patients with Behçet's syndrome. Rheumatol Int 2021; 42:101-113. [PMID: 34825278 PMCID: PMC8614218 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-05056-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Initial case series of small number of patients at the beginning of the pandemic reported a rather guarded prognosis for Behçet’s syndrome (BS) patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. In this prospective study, we describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, disease course, management, and outcome in a large cohort of BS patients with laboratory-confirmed infection of SARS-CoV-2. We defined a cohort of 1047 registered BS patients who were aged between 16 and 60 years and seen routinely before the pandemic at the multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. We followed prospectively this cohort from beginning of April 2020 until the end of April 2021. During 13 months of follow-up, of the 1047 (599 M/448 F) patients, 592 (56.5%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 PCR at least once and 215 (20.5%; 95% CI 0.18–0.23) were tested positive. We observed 2 peaks which took place in December 2020 and April 2021. Of the 215 PCR positive patients, complete information was available in 214. Of these 214, 14 (6.5%) were asymptomatic for COVID-19. In the remaining, the most common symptoms were anosmia, fatigue, fever, arthralgia, and headache. A total of 40 (18.7%) had lung involvement, 25 (11.7%) were hospitalized, 1 was admitted to the intensive care unit while none died. Favipiravir was the most prescribed drug (74.3%), followed by colchicine (40.2%), and hydroxychloroquine (20.1%) in the treatment of COVID-19. After COVID-19, 5 patients (2.3%) were given supplemental O2 and 31 (14.5%) antiaggregant or anticoagulants. During COVID-19, of the 214 PCR positive patients, 116 (54.2%) decreased the dose of their immunosuppressives or stopped taking completely; 36 (16.8%) experienced a BS flare which was mostly oral ulcers (10.3%). None of the patients reported a thrombotic event. A total of 93 (43.5%) patients reported BS flares after a median 45 days of COVID-19 infection and this was found to be significantly associated with immunosuppressive drug discontinuation. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and gender indicated that smoking and using interferon-alpha decreased the likelihood of getting COVID-19. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 did not differ between those who were using colchicine or not. The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in this prospectively followed cohort of BS patients was almost two folds of that estimated for the general population living in Istanbul, Turkey, however, the clinical outcome of COVID-19 was not severe and there was no mortality. The protective effect of smoking and interferon deserves further investigation. On the other hand, colchicine did not have any positive or negative effect against COVID-19. Significant number of patients flared after COVID-19, however, this was significantly associated with immunosuppressive discontinuation during the infection. Contrary to our previous observations, COVID-19 did not seem to exacerbate thrombotic events during or after the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guzin Ozcifci
- Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tahacan Aydin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Atli
- Department of Accounting and Taxation, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey
| | - Ilker Inanc Balkan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fehmi Tabak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mert Oztas
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Yesim Ozguler
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Serdal Ugurlu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Gulen Hatemi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Melike Melikoglu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Izzet Fresko
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Vedat Hamuryudan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey
| | - Emire Seyahi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 81310, Turkey.
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Coffin AB, Boney R, Hill J, Tian C, Steyger PS. Detecting Novel Ototoxins and Potentiation of Ototoxicity by Disease Settings. Front Neurol 2021; 12:725566. [PMID: 34489859 PMCID: PMC8418111 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.725566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 100 drugs and chemicals are associated with permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular deficits, collectively known as ototoxicity. The ototoxic potential of drugs is rarely assessed in pre-clinical drug development or during clinical trials, so this debilitating side-effect is often discovered as patients begin to report hearing loss. Furthermore, drug-induced ototoxicity in adults, and particularly in elderly patients, may go unrecognized due to hearing loss from a variety of etiologies because of a lack of baseline assessments immediately prior to novel therapeutic treatment. During the current pandemic, there is an intense effort to identify new drugs or repurpose FDA-approved drugs to treat COVID-19. Several potential COVID-19 therapeutics are known ototoxins, including chloroquine (CQ) and lopinavir-ritonavir, demonstrating the necessity to identify ototoxic potential in existing and novel medicines. Furthermore, several factors are emerging as potentiators of ototoxicity, such as inflammation (a hallmark of COVID-19), genetic polymorphisms, and ototoxic synergy with co-therapeutics, increasing the necessity to evaluate a drug's potential to induce ototoxicity under varying conditions. Here, we review the potential of COVID-19 therapies to induce ototoxicity and factors that may compound their ototoxic effects. We then discuss two models for rapidly detecting the potential for ototoxicity: mammalian auditory cell lines and the larval zebrafish lateral line. These models offer considerable value for pre-clinical drug development, including development of COVID-19 therapies. Finally, we show the validity of in silico screening for ototoxic potential using a computational model that compares structural similarity of compounds of interest with a database of known ototoxins and non-ototoxins. Preclinical screening at in silico, in vitro, and in vivo levels can provide an earlier indication of the potential for ototoxicity and identify the subset of candidate therapeutics for treating COVID-19 that need to be monitored for ototoxicity as for other widely-used clinical therapeutics, like aminoglycosides and cisplatin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jordan Hill
- Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, United States
| | - Cong Tian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Peter S. Steyger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
- National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland, OR, United States
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Brzoska J, von Eick H, Hündgen M. Commentary: Why Haven't We Found an Effective Treatment for COVID-19? Front Immunol 2021; 12:714175. [PMID: 34290716 PMCID: PMC8287298 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.714175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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9
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Saussez S, Sharma S, Thiriard A, Olislagers V, Vu Duc I, Le Bon SD, Khalife M, Hans S, De Riu G, Hopkins C, Lechien JR, Vaira LA, Marchant A. Predictive factors of smell recovery in a clinical series of 288 coronavirus disease 2019 patients with olfactory dysfunction. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:3702-3711. [PMID: 34157187 PMCID: PMC8444937 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aim was to evaluate potential predictive factors of smell recovery in a clinical series of 288 patients presenting olfactory dysfunction (OD) related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Potential correlations were sought between epidemiological, clinical and immunological characteristics of patients and the persistence of OD at 60 days. METHODS COVID-19 positive patients presenting OD were prospectively recruited from three European hospitals. Baseline clinical and olfactory evaluations were performed within the first 2 weeks after OD onset and repeated at 30 and 60 days. In a subgroup of patients, anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies were measured in serum, saliva and nasal secretions at 60 days. RESULTS A total of 288 COVID-19 patients with OD were included in the study. Two weeks after the onset of the loss of smell, 52.4% of patients had OD on psychophysical tests, including 113 cases (39.2%) of anosmia and 38 cases (13.2%) of hyposmia. At 60-day follow-up, 25.4% of the patients presented persistent OD. There was no significant correlation between sex, age, viral load on nasopharyngeal swab or COVID-19 severity and poor olfactory outcome. In a subgroup of 63 patients, it was demonstrated that patients with poor olfactory outcomes at 60 days had lower levels of salivary and nasal immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG1, but similar levels of antibodies in the serum. CONCLUSIONS No clinical markers predicted the evolution of OD at 60 days. Patients with poor olfactory outcome at 60 days had lower saliva and nasal antibodies, suggesting a role for local immune responses in the persistence of COVID-19 related OD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Saussez
- COVID-19 Task Force of the Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS), Paris, France.,Department of Human Anatomy and Experimental Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, UMONS Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons (UMons), Mons, Belgium.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Bruxelles, CHU Saint-Pierre, School of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, EpiCURA Hospital, Baudour, Belgium
| | - Shilpee Sharma
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Anaïs Thiriard
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Véronique Olislagers
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Inès Vu Duc
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Serge-D Le Bon
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Bruxelles, CHU Saint-Pierre, School of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mohamad Khalife
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, EpiCURA Hospital, Baudour, Belgium
| | - Stephane Hans
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Foch Hospital, School of Medicine, UFR Simone Veil, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Paris Saclay University), Paris, France
| | - Giacomo De Riu
- Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Claire Hopkins
- Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,British Rhinological Society (President), London, UK
| | - Jerome R Lechien
- COVID-19 Task Force of the Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS), Paris, France.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Bruxelles, CHU Saint-Pierre, School of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Foch Hospital, School of Medicine, UFR Simone Veil, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Paris Saclay University), Paris, France
| | - Luigi A Vaira
- Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Biomedical Science PhD School, Biomedical Science Department, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Arnaud Marchant
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
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10
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Liu H, Ruan Z, Yin Z, Wu D, Zhu H. Association of administration of IFN-α with mortality among patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019. Future Virol 2021. [PMCID: PMC7931619 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2020-0404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aim: Recent studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not offered sufficient clinical evidence to support whether IFN-α can decrease the mortality of patients with COVID-19. Method: In this retrospective study, 103 of 1555 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were treated with IFN-α, and the others matched through propensity score matching. Cox regression model, logistics analysis and Kaplan–Meier statistics depicted the survival curve. Results & conclusion: Single factor analysis demonstrated that fewer deaths occurred in patients treated with IFN-α compared with patients treated without IFN-α (p = 0.000). Logistics analysis showed that patients treated with IFN-α had an all-cause mortality odds ratio = 0.01 (95% CI: 0.001–0.110; p = 0.000). The Cox regression model was utilized to determine an all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 0.102 (95% CI: 0.030–0.351; p = 0.000). IFN-α can alleviate disease severity and decrease all-cause mortality, especially in critical patients. IFN-α could effectively treat patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqing Liu
- Department of General Practice, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, China
- Clinical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Zhouru Ruan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, China
| | - Ziwei Yin
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430056, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Department of Teaching, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of General Practice, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430014, China
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11
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Ruetsch C, Brglez V, Crémoni M, Zorzi K, Fernandez C, Boyer-Suavet S, Benzaken S, Demonchy E, Risso K, Courjon J, Cua E, Ichai C, Dellamonica J, Passeron T, Seitz-Polski B. Functional Exhaustion of Type I and II Interferons Production in Severe COVID-19 Patients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 7:603961. [PMID: 33585507 PMCID: PMC7873370 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.603961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged in Wuhan in December 2019 and has since spread across the world. Even though the majority of patients remain completely asymptomatic, some develop severe systemic complications. In this prospective study we compared the immunological profile of 101 COVID-19 patients with either mild, moderate or severe form of the disease according to the WHO classification, as well as of 50 healthy subjects, in order to identify functional immune factors independently associated with severe forms of COVID-19. Plasma cytokine levels, and cytokine levels upon in vitro non-specific stimulation of innate and adaptive immune cells, were measured at several time points during the course of the disease. As described previously, inflammatory cytokines IL1β, IL6, IL8, and TNFα associated with cytokine storm were significantly increased in the plasma of moderate and severe COVID-19 patients (p < 0.0001 for all cytokines). During follow-up, plasma IL6 levels decreased between the moment of admission to the hospital and at the last observation carried forward for patients with favorable outcome (p = 0.02148). After in vitro stimulation of immune cells from COVID-19 patients, reduced levels of both type I and type II interferons (IFNs) upon in vitro stimulation were correlated with increased disease severity [type I IFN (IFNα): p > 0.0001 mild vs. moderate and severe; type II IFN (IFNγ): p = 0.0002 mild vs. moderate and p < 0.0001 mild vs. severe] suggesting a functional exhaustion of IFNs production. Stimulated IFNα levels lower than 2.1 pg/ml and IFNγ levels lower than 15 IU/mL at admission to the hospital were associated with more complications during hospitalization (p = 0.0098 and p =0.0002, respectively). A low IFNγ level was also confirmed by multivariable analysis [p = 0.0349 OR = 0.98 (0.962; 0.999)] as an independent factor of complications. In vitro treatment with type IFNα restored type IFNγ secretion in COVID-19 patients while the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6 and IL1β remained stable or decreased, respectively. These results (a) demonstrate a functional exhaustion of both innate and adaptive immune response in severe forms of COVID-19; (b) identify IFNα and IFNγ as new potential biomarkers of severity; and (c) highlight the importance of targeting IFNs when considering COVID-19 treatment in order to re-establish a normal balance between inflammatory and Th1 effector cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Ruetsch
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), INSERM U1065, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Vesna Brglez
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Marion Crémoni
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Kévin Zorzi
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Céline Fernandez
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Sonia Boyer-Suavet
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Sylvia Benzaken
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Elisa Demonchy
- Service d'Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Karine Risso
- Service d'Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Johan Courjon
- Service d'Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Eric Cua
- Service d'Infectiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Carole Ichai
- Service de réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Jean Dellamonica
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Service de réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Thierry Passeron
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M), INSERM U1065, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Service de dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Barbara Seitz-Polski
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Unité de Recherche Clinique de la Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
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12
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Mazewski C, Perez RE, Fish EN, Platanias LC. Type I Interferon (IFN)-Regulated Activation of Canonical and Non-Canonical Signaling Pathways. Front Immunol 2020; 11:606456. [PMID: 33329603 PMCID: PMC7719805 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.606456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For several decades there has been accumulating evidence implicating type I interferons (IFNs) as key elements of the immune response. Therapeutic approaches incorporating different recombinant type I IFN proteins have been successfully employed to treat a diverse group of diseases with significant and positive outcomes. The biological activities of type I IFNs are consequences of signaling events occurring in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. Biochemical events involving JAK/STAT proteins that control transcriptional activation of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) were the first to be identified and are referred to as "canonical" signaling. Subsequent identification of JAK/STAT-independent signaling pathways, critical for ISG transcription and/or mRNA translation, are denoted as "non-canonical" or "non-classical" pathways. In this review, we summarize these signaling cascades and discuss recent developments in the field, specifically as they relate to the biological and clinical implications of engagement of both canonical and non-canonical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Mazewski
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ricardo E. Perez
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Eleanor N. Fish
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network and Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leonidas C. Platanias
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
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