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Review
. 2020 Sep-Oct;24(5):428-433.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2020.07.011. Epub 2020 Aug 26.

Immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection: the role of interferons type I and type III

Caciane Portela Sousa  1 , Carlos Brites  2
Affiliations
Review

Immune response in SARS-CoV-2 infection: the role of interferons type I and type III

Caciane Portela Sousa et al. Braz J Infect Dis. 2020 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: There is scarce information on the human immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and on the exacerbated inflammatory reaction observed in severe COVID-19 cases.

Objective: To review the available evidence on the role of interferons type I and type III to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: We reviewed the available published evidence on the role of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as recent publications on characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19, and their relationship with interferons type I and type III.

Results: The available data indicates that immune response plays an important role in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection and the immune dysregulation can significantly modify the clinical outcomes of affected patients. In addition, the evidence suggests that IFN type I and III can play an important role in controlling viremia and modulating the immune response in COVID-19.

Conclusions: Due to their central role in immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection, IFN type I and III could be considered for treatment of COVID-19.

Keywords: IFN type I; IFN type III; Immune response; SARS-CoV-2.

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