Interferon has done its job…
Protein That Helps Fight Viruses May Block Lung Repair
Tatiana Matveeva, "Scientific Russia"
A study in mice showed that interferon-lambda protein, which is produced during the body's immune response to the virus, can interfere with the recovery of lung tissue after illness if it remains active for a long time. The work published in the journal Science (Major et al., Type I and III interferons disrupt lung epithelial repair during recovery from viral infection) emphasizes that it is necessary to take into account the timing of treatment with a drug based on this protein and carefully study the question of its use for the treatment of viral diseases, including those caused by coronavirus. The news of A protein that helps to fight viruses can also block lung damage repair appeared on the website of the Francis Crick Institute (UK), whose team conducted the study.
Sections of lung tissue of mice after infection with influenza. On the left – the lungs of an animal from the control group, on the right – the lungs of mice without lambda interferon receptors show an improvement in the growth and differentiation of epithelial cells (red) – VM.
When a virus infects the lungs, the body tries to protect itself and fight the infection. Then one of the protective mechanisms is activated: the interferon-lambda protein begins to be produced, which signals the surrounding lung tissue cells to "turn on" the antiviral mode.
The research team looked at the effect of this protein on laboratory mice and found that if the protein remains active for a long period, it interferes with the restoration of lung tissue. This can prolong lung damage and increase the risk of subsequent bacterial infections.
The higher the level of interferon-lambda in the lungs of mice with influenza, the slower the epithelial cells multiplied. These cells make up the mucous membrane of the air space in the lungs and must multiply to replace the cells damaged during the disease. Scientists observed the same picture both in rodents receiving experimental protein treatment and in rodents that naturally produced protein as a result of the body's reaction to the virus.
The researchers also tested how interferon-lambda affects the culture of human lung epithelial cells. They saw that cells treated with this protein were also less able to grow.
The authors note that although this study studied mice infected with influenza, the effect of this protein should be similar for other viruses that also cause lung damage. They also include the coronavirus.
Interferon-lambda is currently being investigated in clinical trials as a potential compound for the treatment of COVID-19 (including such trials being conducted in Russia), so it is important to understand the biology of the protein that underlies its antiviral action.
"This means that for any antiviral treatment that uses this protein, a really careful balance must be observed. Clinicians should take into account the timing of treatment – the earlier, the better – and the duration of treatment," comments Andreas Wack, lead author of the study and head of the immunoregulatory laboratory group at the Francis Crick Institute.
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