SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected more than 92 million people worldwide resulting in the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Using a rhesus macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we have characterized the transcriptional signatures induced in the lungs of juvenile and old macaques following infection. Genes associated with Interferon (IFN) signaling, neutrophil degranulation and innate immune pathways are significantly induced in macaque infected lungs, while pathways associated with collagen formation are downregulated, as also seen in lungs of macaques with tuberculosis. In COVID-19, increasing age is a significant risk factor for poor prognosis and increased mortality. Type I IFN and Notch signaling pathways are significantly upregulated in lungs of juvenile infected macaques when compared with old infected macaques. These results are corroborated with increased peripheral neutrophil counts and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in older individuals with COVID-19 disease. Together, our transcriptomic studies have delineated disease pathways that improve our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. Rosa et al. find that genes associated with Interferon (IFN) signaling, neutrophil degranulation and innate immune pathways are induced in the lungs of macaques in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas genes associated with collagen formation and regulation are reduced. Authors also note an overlap of genes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and tuberculosis, altogether providing new insights into the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 disease.
【저자키워드】 viral infection, interferons, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019, Tuberculosis, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, lung, SARS-CoV-2 virus, risk factor, COVID-19 disease, Lungs, Immunopathogenesis, pathway, IFN, macaque, collagen, signaling pathway, disease, macaques, Signaling, Older, Regulation, overlap, poor prognosis, neutrophil count, increased mortality, increasing age, neutrophil degranulation, rhesus, Notch, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, transcriptomic, transcriptional, IMPROVE, resulting, significantly, reduced, characterized, upregulated, Type, downregulated, individuals with COVID-19, innate immune pathway, 【제목키워드】 SARS-COV-2 infection, IFN signaling, neutrophil degranulation, transcriptional,