Cited by 443interferon and immune responsesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchViral Infections and Outbreaks Research

Interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the type I interferon response

Open access
Sa Ribero, Margarida, Jouvenet, Nolwenn, Dreux, Marlène, Nisole, Sébastien·2020·PLOS Pathogens

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. An unbalanced immune response, characterized by a weak production of type I interferons (IFN-Is) and an exacerbated release of proinflammatory cytokines, contributes to the severe forms of the disease. SARS-CoV-2 is genetically related to SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which caused outbreaks in 2003 and 2013, respectively. Although IFN treatment gave some encouraging results against SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV in animal models, its potential as a therapeutic against COVID-19 awaits validation. Here, we describe our current knowledge of the complex interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the IFN system, highlighting some of the gaps that need to be filled for a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition to the conserved IFN evasion strategies that are likely shared with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, novel counteraction mechanisms are being discovered in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Since the last coronavirus epidemic, we have made considerable progress in understanding the IFN-I response, including its spatiotemporal regulation and the prominent role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which are the main IFN-I-producing cells. While awaiting the results of the many clinical trials that are evaluating the efficacy of IFN-I alone or in combination with antiviral molecules, we discuss the potential benefits of a well-timed IFN-I treatment and propose strategies to boost pDC-mediated IFN responses during the early stages of viral infection.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008737

Cites

149 of 149 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • A main evasion strategy seems to be blocking type I interferon responses at several steps, such as viral RNA recognition, nuclear translocation of inflammatory transcription factors, and STAT1/STAT2 phosphorylation.

    “A predominant strategy appears to be the inhibition of the type I interferon response58–60 at multiple points, including impaired recognition of viral RNA61,62, decreased nuclear translocation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors (such as IRF3, IRF7 and STAT1)61,63 and suppression of STAT1 and STAT2 phosphorylation64,65.”
  • SARS-CoV-2 uses a multipronged strategy to antagonize the IFN system, with the clinical consequence of an insufficient type I IFN response in early COVID-19.

    “As an immune evasion strategy, SARS-CoV-2 uses a multipronged strategy to antagonize the IFN system with the clinical consequence of an insufficient type I IFN response having been recognized in early COVID-19 studies (Acharya et al., 2020; Blanco-Melo et al., 2020; Sa Ribero et al., 2020).”

    From COVID-19 and the human innate immune system (2021) · cites this paper as Sa Ribero et al., 2020

  • The pattern recognition receptors involved in recognizing SARS-CoV-2 are not yet directly determined; based on other coronaviruses, the most likely candidates are endosomal TLR3 and TLR7 or cytosolic RIG-I and MDA5.

    “Similarly, the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in recognizing SARS-CoV-2 are not yet directly determined. Based on findings from other coronaviruses, the most likely candidates are Toll-like receptors 3 (TLR3) and TLR7 in the endosome (Mazaleuskaya et al., 2012) or the cytosolic sensors retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) (Sa R”

    From COVID-19 and the human innate immune system (2021) · cites this paper as Sa Ribero et al., 2020

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 10

  1. [51]Konno Y, Kimura I, Uriu K, Fukushi M, Irie T, Koyanagi Y, et al SARS-CoV-2 ORF3b is a potent interferon antagonist whose activity is further increased by a naturally occurring elongation variant. bioRxiv 088179 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.11.088179v1 PMC7473339 32941788 · DOI
  2. [52]Thoms M, Buschauer R, Ameismeier M, Koepke L, Denk T, Hirschenberger M, et al Structural basis for translational shutdown and immune evasion by the Nsp1 protein of SARS-CoV-2. bioRxiv 102467 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.18.102467v1 PMC7402621 32680882 · DOI
  3. [81]Channappanavar R, Fehr AR, Zheng J, Wohlford-Lenane C, Abrahante JE, Mack M, et al IFN-I response timing relative to virus replication determines MERS coronavirus infection outcomes. J Clin Invest. 2019; 130: 3625– 39. 10.1172/JCI126363.126363 [pii]. 31355779 PMC6715373 · DOI
  4. [99]Lokugamage KG, Hage A, Schindewolf C, Rajsbaum R, Menachery VD. SARS-CoV-2 is sensitive to type I interferon pretreatment. bioRxiv 982264 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.07.982264v3 · DOI
  5. [114]Nchioua R, Kmiec D, Müller J, Conzelmann C, Groß R, Swanson C, et al The Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein restricts SARS-CoV-2. bioRxiv 134379 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.04.134379v2 · DOI
  6. [120]Pfaender S, Mar KB, Michailidis E, Kratzel A, Hirt D, V'Kovski P, et al LY6E impairs coronavirus fusion and confers immune control of viral disease. bioRxiv 979260 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.05.979260v1 PMC7916999 32704094 · DOI
  7. [127]Wang P-H, Cheng Y. Increasing Host Cellular Receptor—Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) Expression by Coronavirus may Facilitate 2019-nCoV Infection. bioRxiv 963348 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.24.963348v1 PMC7300907 32497323 · DOI
  8. [142]O'Brien TR, Thomas DL, Jackson SS, Prokunina-Olsson L, Donnelly RP, Hartmann R. Weak Induction of Interferon Expression by SARS-CoV-2 Supports Clinical Trials of Interferon Lambda to Treat Early COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis. 2020: ciaa453 10.1093/cid/ciaa453 32301957 PMC7184357 · DOI
  9. [148]Stanifer ML, Kee C, Cortese M, Triana S, Mukenhirn M, Kraeusslich H-G, et al Critical role of type III interferon in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication and spread in primary human intestinal epithelial cells. bioRxiv 059667 [Preprint]. 2020 [cited 2020 May 15]. Available from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.24.059667v1 PMC7303637 32610043 · DOI
  10. [155]Nakatsu Y, Matsunaga Y, Ueda K, Yamamotoya T, Inoue Y, Inoue MK, et al Development of Pin1 inhibitors and their potential as therapeutic agents. Curr Med Chem. 2020; 27(20): 3314– 3329. 10.2174/0929867325666181105120911. 30394205 · DOI

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Sa Ribero, M., Jouvenet, N., Dreux, M., & Nisole, S.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
Corresponding author
  • Jouvenet, Nolwenn
  • Dreux, Marlène
  • Nisole, Sébastien
Venue
PLOS Pathogens
Published
2020-07-29
Volume
16
Issue
7
Pages
e1008737
ISSN
  • 1553-7366 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7374
OpenAlex
W3045552416
Cited by
443
References
149
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 118 · 2021: 175 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 1
FWCI
9.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Pathogens (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (10-LABX-12-01, ANR-10-LABX-12-01, ANR-Flash-COVID19, ANR-19-CE15-0025, ANR-16-CE15-0025, ANR-20-COVI-0099, ANR-10, ANR-10-LABX, ANR-10-LABX-0012)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
  • Région Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée
  • Laboratoire d'Excellence EpiGenMed (ANR-10-LABX-12-01)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › interferon and immune responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pandemic, type I interferon response, interferon evasion, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, inflammatory cytokines, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, interferon therapy, viral immune evasion
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Antiviral Agents, Dendritic Cells, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Interferon Type I, Pneumonia, Viral, Prognosis, Coronavirus Infections, Pandemics

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review