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Teixeira-Carvalho, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Teixeira-Carvalho, A..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Airway epithelial cells and macrophages trigger IL-6-CD95/CD95L axis and mediate initial immunopathology of COVID-19

Airway epithelial cells (AEC) are the first in contact with SARS-CoV-2 and drive the interface with macrophage to generate inflammation. To elucidate how those initial events contribute to the immunopathology or to dysregulate the immune response observed in severe and critical COVID-19, we determined the direct and indirect interactions of these cells. AEC lineage (Calu-3) infected with SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial cells (CD45-EpCAM+) from intubated COVID-19 patients showed high expression of CD95L. Infected-Calu-3 cells secreted IL-6, and expressed annexin V and caspase-3, apoptosis markers. The direct interaction of macrophages with sorted apoptotic Calu-3 cells, driven by SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulted in macrophage death and increased expression of CD95, CD95L and CD163. Macrophages exposed to tracheal aspirate supernatants from intubated COVID-19 patients or to recombinant human IL-6 exhibited decreased HLA-DR and increased CD95 and CD163 expression. IL-6 effects on macrophages were prevented by tocilizumab (anti-IL-6 receptor mAb) and Kp7-6 (CD95/CD95L antagonist). Similarly, lung inflammation and death of AEC were decreased in CD95 and IL-6 knockout mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our results show that the AEC-macrophage interaction via CD95/CD95L signaling is an initial key step of immunopathology of severe COVID-19 and should be considered as a therapeutic target. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=181 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/504760v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (88K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@aadef5org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13d033org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c9c555org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ba821e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Highlights- SARS-CoV-2-infected airway epithelial cells (AEC) secrete IL-6, express Fas/FasL and undergo apoptosis; - SARS-CoV-2-infected apoptotic AEC induces Fas/FasL expression and death in macrophages; - IL-6 induces IL-1{beta} secretion, reduction of HLA-DR and increase of Fas and CD163 expression in macrophages; - Blockade of IL-6 signaling and Fas/FasL restores the expression of HLA-DR and reduces the expression of Fas and CD163, and secretion of IL-1{beta} on isolated macrophages; in vivo, the deficiency of Fas and IL-6 decreases acute pulmonary inflammation in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice.

immunology↗

Analysis of the immunological biomarker profile during acute Zika virus infection reveals the overexpression of CXCL10, a chemokine already linked to neuronal damage

Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) manifests in a broad spectrum of disease ranging from mild illness to severe neurological complications. To define immunologic correlates of ZIKV infection, we characterized the levels of circulating cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in 54 infected patients of both genders, at five different time-points after symptoms onset using microbeads multiplex immunoassay; statistical analysis and data mining compared to 100 age-matched controls. ZIKV-infected patients present a striking systemic inflammatory response with high levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. Despite the strong inflammatory pattern, IL-1Ra and IL-4 are also induced during acute infection. Interestingly, the inflammatory cytokines, IL-1{beta}, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-, IFN-{gamma}; chemokines, CXCL8, CCL2, CCL5; and the growth factor G-CSF display a bimodal distribution accompanying viremia. While this is the first manuscript to document bimodal distributions of viremia in ZIKV infection, bimodal viremia has been documented in other viral infections with primary viremia peaks during mild systemic disease and a secondary viremia with distribution of the virus to organs and tissues. Moreover, biomarker network analysis demonstrated distinct dynamics in consonance with the bimodal viremia profiles at different time-points during ZIKV infection. Such robust cytokine and chemokine response has been associated with blood-brain barrier permeability and neuroinvasiveness in other flaviviral infections. High-dimensional data analysis further established CXCL10, a chemokine involved in fetal neuron apoptosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome, as the most promising biomarker of acute ZIKV infection for a potential clinical application.\n\nAuthor SummaryInfection with Zika virus manifests in a broad spectrum of disease ranging from mild illness to severe neurological complications. This study characterized the levels of circulating cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in Zika-infected patients showing an inflammatory immune response. Specifically, this study identified a chemokine, CXCL10, known to be involved in fetal neuron apoptosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome, as the most promising biomarker to characterize acute Zika virus infection.

immunology↗