scholarly journals 523. Use of Immune-Viral Dynamics Modeling to Understand Molnupiravir Drug Effect for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S362-S363
Author(s):  
Youfang Cao ◽  
Wei Gao ◽  
Ruthie Birger ◽  
Julie Stone

Abstract Background Molnupiravir (MOV) is an orally administered ribonucleoside prodrug of β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) against SARS-CoV-2. Here we present viral dynamics analysis of Phase 2 clinical virology data to inform MOV Phase 3 study design and development strategy. Methods An Immune-Viral Dynamics Model (IVDM) was developed with mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication, and induced immunity, which together describe the dynamics of viral load (VL) during disease progression. Longitudinal virology data from ferret studies (Cox, et al. Nat. Microbiol 2021:6-11) were used to inform IVDM, which was further translated to human by adjusting parameter values to capture clinical data from MOVe-IN/MOVe-OUT studies. Different placements of drug effects (on viral infectivity vs. productivity) and representations of immune response were explored to identify the best ones to describe data. A simplified 95% drug effect was implemented to represent a highly effective dose of MOV. Results IVDM showed data were best described when MOV acts on viral infectivity, consistent with the error catastrophe mechanism of action. A cascade of innate and adaptive immune response and a basal level activation enabled durable immunity and continued viral decay after treatment end. IVDM reasonably describes VL and viral titer data from animals and humans. Influence of MOV start time was explored using simulations. Consistent with the ferret studies, simulations showed when treatment is started within the first week post infection, MOV reduces viral growth, resulting in a lower and shortened duration of detectable VL. When started later (e.g. >7 days since symptom onset), the magnitude of drug effect is substantially diminished in a typical patient with an effective immune response which reduces VL prior to treatment start. Further work is needed to model response in patients with longer term infection, where MOV drug effects may have more persistent utility. Conclusion A COVID-19 IVDM developed using multiscale MOV virology data supports drug action on viral infectivity and importance of interplay of treatment and immune response and can describe infection time course and drug effect. IVDM provided mechanistic interpretations for VL drug effect in clinical studies. Disclosures Youfang Cao, PhD, Merck & Co. (Employee) Wei Gao, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder) Ruthie Birger, PhD, Merck (Employee) Julie Stone, PhD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Employee, Shareholder)

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (6) ◽  
pp. R1644-R1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C. Dimayuga ◽  
Xiaoning Zhao ◽  
Juliana Yano ◽  
Kuang-Yuh Chyu

Atherosclerosis is a disease associated with aging and is subject to modulation by both the innate and adaptive immune system. The time course of age-dependent changes in immune regulation in the context of atherosclerosis has not been characterized. This study aims to describe alteration of the immune responses to oxidized LDL (oxLDL) during aging that is associated with changes in plaque size and phenotype in apoE(−/−) mice. Mice fed a Western diet were euthanized at 15–17, 36, or >52 wk of age. The descending aortas were stained for assessment of extent of atherosclerosis. Plaque lipid, macrophage, and collagen content were evaluated in aortic sinus lesions. The adaptive immune response to oxLDL was assessed using anti-malondialdehyde-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) and copper-oxidized LDL (Cu-oxLDL) IgG, and the innate immune response was assessed using anti-Cu-oxLDL and phosphorylcholine (PC) IgM. Aging was associated with a significant increase in plaque area and collagen content and a decrease in plaque macrophage and lipid content. MDA-LDL IgG significantly increased at 36 wk but was reduced in mice >52 wk. Cu-oxLDL IgG increased with age and IgG-apoB immune complexes were increased in the >52 wk group. Cu-oxLDL and PC IgM significantly increased with age. The expression of splenic cytokines such as IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 increased with age. Our study shows a generalized increase in innate immune responses associated with progression of atherosclerosis and a less inflammatory and less lipid-containing plaque phenotype during aging. The adaptive immune response appeared to be less generalized, with a specific reduction in MDA-LDL IgG.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-269
Author(s):  
Adina Huțanu ◽  
Anca Meda Georgescu ◽  
Akos Vince Andrejkovits ◽  
William Au ◽  
Minodora Dobreanu

Abstract The innate immune system is mandatory for the activation of antiviral host defense and eradication of the infection. In this regard, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils representing the cellular component, and cytokines, interferons, complement or Toll-Like Receptors, representing the mediators of unspecific response act together for both activation of the adaptive immune response and viral clearance. Of great importance is the proper functioning of the innate immune response from the very beginning. For instance, in the early stages of viral infection, the defective interferon response leads to uncontrolled viral replication and pathogen evasion, while hypersecretion during the later stages of infection generates hyperinflammation. This cascade activation of systemic inflammation culminates with cytokine storm syndrome and hypercoagulability state, due to a close interconnection between them. Thus an unbalanced reaction, either under- or over- stimulation of the innate immune system will lead to an uncoordinated response and unfavorable disease outcomes. Since both cellular and humoral factors are involved in the time-course of the innate immune response, in this review we aimed to address their gradual involvement in the antiviral response with emphasis on key steps in SARS-CoV-2 infection.


2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 5193-5197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa R. W. Plano ◽  
Becky Adkins ◽  
Markus Woischnik ◽  
Ruth Ewing ◽  
Carleen M. Collins

ABSTRACT Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is an exfoliative dermatitis that results from infection with exfoliative toxin-producingStaphylococcus aureus. SSSS is seen primarily in infants and children. Here we ask if there is a specific maturation process that protects healthy adults from this syndrome. For these studies, an active recombinant exfoliative toxin A (rETA) was used in a neonatal mouse model. A time course generated on the susceptibility to the toxin as a function of mouse age indicated that BALB/c mice developed the characteristic symptoms of SSSS until day 7 of life. Between day 7 and day 8 of life there was a dramatic decrease in susceptibility, such that mice at day 9 of life were resistant to the effects of the toxin. This time course corresponds approximately to the time needed for maturation of the adaptive immune response, and SSSS in adults is often identified with immunocompromised states. Therefore, mice deficient in this response were examined. Adult mice thymectomized at birth and adult SCID mice did not develop the symptoms of SSSS after injection with the toxin, indicating that the adaptive immune response is not responsible for the lack of susceptibility observed in the older mice. SSSS in adults is also associated with renal disorders, suggesting that levels of toxin in serum are important in the development of the disease. rETA was not cleared as efficiently from the serum of 1-day-old mice compared to clearance from 10-day-old mice. Ten-day-old mice were given repeated injections of toxin so that the maximal level of toxin was maintained for a sustained period of time, and exfoliation occurred in these mice. Thus, whereas the adaptive immune response is not needed for protection of adult mice from SSSS, efficient clearance of the toxin from the bloodstream is a critical factor.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Gao ◽  
Qi Fu ◽  
He-Min Jiang ◽  
Min Shen ◽  
Rui-Ling Zhao ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveHyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are co-existing characteristics of type 2 diabetes, whereas the molecular mechanism underlying this deleterious cycle remains elusive. The temporal transcriptomic landscape of core organs responsible for insulin secretion (islets) and insulin action (liver) could provide new insights.MethodsThe longitudinal profiling of glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, islet architecture and secretion were conducted in C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or chow diet for 24 weeks. RNA-sequencing of islets and liver were performed once every 4 weeks. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis were applied to construct networks and evaluate co-ordinated molecular interactions between islets and liver.ResultsMice exhibited progressively deteriorated glucose homeostasis with hyperinsulinemia but impaired first-phase insulin secretion after 4 weeks on HFD. Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion in response to glucose with or without palmitate gradually deteriorated from dysregulation to failure. Systemic insulin resistance developed over 24 weeks with variable time course in tissue-specific insulin action. Our transcriptomic datasets outlined the impact of HFD on dynamics of islet and liver molecular network at different stages. Correlation analyses revealed that both organs jointly programmed β-cell compensatory adaption via cell proliferation at early phase and irreversible islet dysfunction by inappropriate immune response at later stage. Alternations of T cell subpopulations validated the participation of adaptive immune response through priming and amplification phases in diabetic progression.ConclusionOur data provide a comprehensive landscape of crosstalk between islets and liver in diet-induced diabetes, elucidating the development of islet dysfunction and insulin resistance.HighlightsDiet-induced diabetes is featured by transition from islet dysfunction to failureInsulin resistance develops with variable time course in different tissuesDynamics of islet and liver molecular network interplay at different stagesCell proliferation and improper immune reaction mediated interorgan crosstalkAdaptive immune response participated via priming and amplification phases


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 999-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Misme-Aucouturier ◽  
Adel Touahri ◽  
Marjorie Albassier ◽  
Francine Jotereau ◽  
Patrice Le Pape ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Hana Votavova ◽  
Zuzana Urbanova ◽  
David Kundrat ◽  
Michaela Dostalova Merkerova ◽  
Martin Vostry ◽  
...  

Deferasirox (DFX) is an oral iron chelator used to reduce iron overload (IO) caused by frequent blood cell transfusions in anemic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. To study the molecular mechanisms by which DFX improves outcome in MDS, we analyzed the global gene expression in untreated MDS patients and those who were given DFX treatment. The gene expression profiles of bone marrow CD34+ cells were assessed by whole-genome microarrays. Initially, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined between patients with normal ferritin levels and those with IO to address the effect of excessive iron on cellular pathways. These DEGs were annotated to Gene Ontology terms associated with cell cycle, apoptosis, adaptive immune response and protein folding and were enriched in cancer-related pathways. The deregulation of multiple cancer pathways in iron-overloaded patients suggests that IO is a cofactor favoring the progression of MDS. The DEGs between patients with IO and those treated with DFX were involved predominantly in biological processes related to the immune response and inflammation. These data indicate DFX modulates the immune response mainly via neutrophil-related genes. Suppression of negative regulators of blood cell differentiation essential for cell maturation and upregulation of heme metabolism observed in DFX-treated patients may contribute to the hematopoietic improvement.


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