TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunological aspects related to viral infections in severe asthma and the role of omalizumab
AU - Menzella, Francesco
AU - Ghidoni, Giulia
AU - Galeone, Carla
AU - Capobelli, Silvia
AU - Scelfo, Chiara
AU - Facciolongo, Nicola Cosimo
N1 - Funding Information:
Conflicts of Interest: F.M. has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Milan (Italy), Novartis Farma, Milan (Italy), and Sanofi, Milan (Italy); and lecture fees and advisory board fees from AstraZeneca Milan (Italy), Boehringer Ingelheim Milan (Italy), Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma (Italy), GSK, Verona (Italy), Mundipharma, Milan (Italy) Novartis Farma, Milan (Italy) and Sanofi, Milan (ItalY). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - Viral respiratory infections are recognized risk factors for the loss of control of allergic asthma and the induction of exacerbations, both in adults and children. Severe asthma is more susceptible to virus-induced asthma exacerbations, especially in the presence of high IgE levels. In the course of immune responses to viruses, an initial activation of innate immunity typically occurs and the production of type I and III interferons is essential in the control of viral spread. However, the Th2 inflammatory environment still appears to be protective against viral infections in general and in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections as well. As for now, literature data, although extremely limited and preliminary, show that severe asthma patients treated with biologics don’t have an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or progression to severe forms compared to the non-asthmatic population. Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, exerts a profound cellular effect, which can stabilize the effector cells, and is becoming much more efficient from the point of view of innate immunity in contrasting respiratory viral infections. In addition to the antiviral effect, clinical efficacy and safety of this biological allow a great improvement in the management of asthma.
AB - Viral respiratory infections are recognized risk factors for the loss of control of allergic asthma and the induction of exacerbations, both in adults and children. Severe asthma is more susceptible to virus-induced asthma exacerbations, especially in the presence of high IgE levels. In the course of immune responses to viruses, an initial activation of innate immunity typically occurs and the production of type I and III interferons is essential in the control of viral spread. However, the Th2 inflammatory environment still appears to be protective against viral infections in general and in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections as well. As for now, literature data, although extremely limited and preliminary, show that severe asthma patients treated with biologics don’t have an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or progression to severe forms compared to the non-asthmatic population. Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, exerts a profound cellular effect, which can stabilize the effector cells, and is becoming much more efficient from the point of view of innate immunity in contrasting respiratory viral infections. In addition to the antiviral effect, clinical efficacy and safety of this biological allow a great improvement in the management of asthma.
KW - Biologicals
KW - Immune response
KW - Omalizumab
KW - Severe asthma
KW - Viral respiratory infections
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U2 - 10.3390/biomedicines9040348
DO - 10.3390/biomedicines9040348
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85104007151
VL - 9
JO - Biomedicines
JF - Biomedicines
SN - 2227-9059
IS - 4
M1 - 348
ER -