Matteucci Claudia, Minutolo Antonella, Balestrieri Emanuela, Petrone Vita, Fanelli Marialaura, Malagnino Vincenzo, Ianetta Marco, Giovinazzo Alessandro, Barreca Filippo, Di Cesare Silvia, De Marco Patrizia, Miele Martino Tony, Toschi Nicola, Mastino Antonio, Sinibaldi Vallebona Paola, Bernardini Sergio, Rogliani Paola, Sarmati Loredana, Andreoni Massimo, Grelli Sandro, Garaci Enrico
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Open Forum Infect Dis. 2020 Dec 5;8(1):ofaa588. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa588. eCollection 2021 Jan.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by immune-mediated lung injury and complex alterations of the immune system, such as lymphopenia and cytokine storm, that have been associated with adverse outcomes underlining a fundamental role of host response in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and the pathogenesis of the disease. Thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) is one of the molecules used in the management of COVID-19, because it is known to restore the homeostasis of the immune system during infections and cancer.
In this study, we captured the interconnected biological processes regulated by Tα1 in CD8+ T cells under inflammatory conditions.
Genes associated with cytokine signaling and production were upregulated in blood cells from patients with COVID-19, and the ex vivo treatment with Tα1-mitigated cytokine expression, and inhibited lymphocyte activation in a CD8+ T-cell subset specifically.
These data suggest the potential role of Tα1 in modulating the immune response homeostasis and the cytokine storm in vivo.
2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的特征是免疫介导的肺损伤和免疫系统的复杂改变，如淋巴细胞减少和细胞因子风暴，这些与不良预后相关，突显了宿主反应在严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2感染和疾病发病机制中的基本作用。胸腺肽α1（Tα1）是用于治疗COVID-19的分子之一，因为已知它在感染和癌症期间可恢复免疫系统的稳态。
在本研究中，我们捕捉了炎症条件下Tα1在CD8 + T细胞中调节的相互关联的生物学过程。
COVID-19患者血细胞中与细胞因子信号传导和产生相关的基因上调，Tα1的体外治疗减轻了细胞因子表达，并特异性抑制了CD8 + T细胞亚群中的淋巴细胞活化。
这些数据表明Tα1在体内调节免疫反应稳态和细胞因子风暴方面的潜在作用。
