The inflammatory microenvironment of the lung at the time of infection governs innate control of SARS-CoV-2 replication.

Publication date: Dec 06, 2024

Severity of COVID-19 is affected by multiple factors; however, it is not understood how the inflammatory milieu of the lung at the time of SARS-CoV-2 exposure affects the control of viral replication. Here, we demonstrate that immune events in the mouse lung closely preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection affect viral control and identify innate immune pathways that limit viral replication. Pulmonary inflammatory stimuli including resolved, antecedent respiratory infections with Staphylococcus aureus or influenza, ongoing pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, ovalbumin/alum-induced asthma, or airway administration of TLR ligands and recombinant cytokines all establish an antiviral state in the lung that restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication. In addition to antiviral type I interferons, TNFα and IL-1 potently precondition the lung for enhanced viral control. Our work shows that SARS-CoV-2 may benefit from an immunologically quiescent lung microenvironment and suggests that heterogeneity in pulmonary inflammation preceding SARS-CoV-2 exposure may contribute to variability in disease outcomes.

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Concepts Keywords
Enhanced Animals
Microenvironment COVID-19
Mycobacterium Female
Pulmonary Humans
Tuberculosis Immunity, Innate
Inflammation
Lung
Mice
SARS-CoV-2
Virus Replication

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH infection
disease IDO replication
disease MESH COVID-19
pathway KEGG Viral replication
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection
disease MESH respiratory infections
disease MESH influenza
disease MESH Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
disease MESH asthma
pathway KEGG Asthma
disease MESH pulmonary inflammation
disease MESH Inflammation

Original Article

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