The exact role of innate immune cells upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and their contribution to the formation of the corona virus-induced disease (COVID)-19 associated cytokine storm is not yet fully understood. We show that human in vitro differentiated myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) as well as M1 and M2 macrophages are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2 but are not productively infected. Furthermore, infected mDC, M1-, and M2 macrophages show only slight changes in their activation status. Surprisingly, none of the infected innate immune cells produced the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)−6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, or interferon (IFN)−α. Moreover, even in co-infection experiments using different stimuli, as well as non-influenza (non-flu) or influenza A (flu) viruses, only very minor IL-6 production was induced. In summary, we conclude that mDC and macrophages are unlikely the source of the first wave of cytokines upon infection with SARS-CoV-2.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, macrophages, type I interferon, interleukin 6, dendritic cell, tumor necrosis factor alpha/TNF-alpha, activation status, 【초록키워드】 viruses, Necrosis, Macrophage, Tumor, Corona virus, Cytokine storm, coronavirus, Cytokines, macrophages, IL-6, Influenza, Infection, interferon, cytokine, in vitro, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, influenza A, dendritic cells, tumor necrosis factor, Co-infection, immune cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Innate immune cells, experiment, flu, respiratory, disease, First wave, tumor necrosis, acute respiratory syndrome, Activation, M2 macrophages, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, pro-inflammatory cytokine, susceptible, produced, unlikely, changes in, infection with SARS-CoV-2, innate immune cell, M2 macrophage, 【제목키워드】 Cytokines, macrophages, dendritic cells, Major, Source,