Interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the type I interferon response

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. An unbalanced immune response, characterized by a weak production of type I interferons (IFN-Is) and an exacerbated release of proinflammatory cytokines, contributes to the severe forms of the disease. SARS-CoV-2 is genetically related to SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which caused outbreaks in 2003 and 2013, respectively. Although IFN treatment gave some encouraging results against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV in animal models, its potential as a therapeutic against COVID-19 awaits validation. Here, we describe our current knowledge of the complex interplay…

• AN
  Agence Nationale de la Recherche

  Awards: 10-LABX-12-01, ANR-10-LABX-12-01, ANR-10, ANR Flash COVID-19
• CN
  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
• RO
  Région Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée
• LD
  Laboratoire d'Excellence EpiGenMed

  Award: ANR-10-LABX-12-01