Can Intricate Modus Operandi of Interferons in Viral Diseases Bring Real Hope in COVID-19 Pandemic Situation?

摘要

Interferons (IFN), a family of naturally occurring proteins, are secreted mainly from White Blood Cells (WBC), Natural killer cells,fibroblasts and epithelial cells. They are the primary modulator of response of the immune system to viruses, bacteria, cancerand other foreign substances that invade the body. Three types of IFNs have been identified till date and commercially availablenow by recombinant DNA technology. Type 1 IFN especially IFN-β has already been successfully passed the clinical trial againstMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome related Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) and also being tried in “Solidarity clinical trial for COVID-19treatments” announced by World Health Organisation (WHO) in March, 2020. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2) emerged from China in December, 2019. It has rapidly spread out all over the world and become pandemic now. Ithas infected more than eight million and killing around four lac people worldwide up to June 17, 2020. Elderly persons and peoplewith comorbidities like diabetes, chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases and immune compromised states are the primaryvictim of this deadly virus. In this regard, we are trying to evaluate the potential benefits of type 1 IFN as a promising and safertreatment modality as well as specific prognostic marker when there are no specific and established vaccines, drugs or prognosticbiomarkers available yet against SARS-CoV-2. We can hypothesise that thorough evaluation of these molecules against COVID-19may open-up a new opportunity to successfully combat this evil.