Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34950134›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2021

Imiquimod Boosts Interferon Response, and Decreases ACE2 and Pro-Inflammatory Response of Human Bronchial Epithelium in Asthma.

Juan José Nieto-Fontarigo, Sofia Tillgren, Samuel Cerps, Asger Sverrild, Morten Hvidtfeldt, Sangeetha Ramu, Mandy Menzel, Adam Frederik Sander, Celeste Porsbjerg, Lena Uller

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 27% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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  7. The role of IL-1 family of cytokines and receptors in pathogenesis of COVID-19.Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.] · 2022
    Article
  8. [Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 particapates in ozone-induced lung inflammation and airway remodeling in mice].Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University · 2022
    Article
  9. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Juan José Nieto-FontarigoDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Sofia TillgrenDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Samuel CerpsDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Asger SverrildDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Morten HvidtfeldtDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sangeetha RamuDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Mandy MenzelDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Adam Frederik SanderDepartment for Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Celeste PorsbjergDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lena UllerDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Lund University · SEBispebjerg Hospital · DKUniversity of Copenhagen · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Both anti-viral and anti-inflammatory bronchial effects are warranted to treat viral infections in asthma. We sought to investigate if imiquimod, a TLR7 agonist, exhibits such dual actions in Objective: To investigate bronchial epithelial effects of imiquimod of potential importance for anti-viral treatment in asthmatic patients. Methods: Effects of imiquimod alone were examined in HBECs from healthy (N=4) and asthmatic (N=18) donors. Mimicking SARS-CoV-2 infection, HBECs were stimulated with poly(I:C), a dsRNA analogue, or SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein 1 (SP1; receptor binding) with and without imiquimod treatment. Expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptor (ACE2), pro-inflammatory and anti-viral cytokines were analyzed by RT-qPCR, multiplex ELISA, western blot, and Nanostring and proteomic analyses. Results: Imiquimod reduced ACE2 expression at baseline and after poly(I:C) stimulation. Imiquimod also reduced poly(I:C)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-33. Furthermore, imiquimod increased IFN-β expression, an effect potentiated in presence of poly(I:C) or SP1. Multiplex mRNA analysis verified enrichment in type-I IFN signaling concomitant with suppression of cytokine signaling pathways induced by imiquimod in presence of poly(I:C). Exploratory proteomic analyses revealed potentially protective effects of imiquimod on infections. Conclusion: Imiquimod triggers viral resistance mechanisms in HBECs by decreasing ACE2 and increasing IFN-β expression. Additionally, imiquimod improves viral infection tolerance by reducing viral stimulus-induced epithelial cytokines involved in severe COVID-19 infection. Our imiquimod data highlight feasibility of producing pluripotent drugs potentially suited for anti-viral treatment in asthmatic subjects.

Indexed as

AsthmaCOVID-19Adjuvants, ImmunologicAdultAgedAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2BronchiCells, CulturedFemaleHumansImiquimodInterferon-betaMaleMiddle AgedRespiratory MucosaSARS-CoV-2ACE2 protein, humanAdjuvants, ImmunologicAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2ImiquimodInterferon-betaanti-viral drugasthmaCOVID-19imiquimodSARS – CoV – 2TLR7 agonist

Identifiers

PMID34950134
PMCPMC8688760
OpenAlexW4200311424

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.