Innate immune responses against COVID-19 in the elderly and those with underlying conditions
Description: COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions worldwide. Though mild in most cases, a subset of individuals suffer from severe disease that requires hospitalizations and can be fatal. Studies indicate that older individuals and those suffering from underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease etc. are at higher risk for severe illness from the COVID-19. These individuals are unable mount an effective immune response against the virus to clear it from their body. This leads to increased viral multiplication and pneumonia like symptoms in the lung. Innate immune system cells including dendritic cells and macrophages/monocytes are amongst the first cells to respond to the coronavirus. They produce various protective cytokines that can prevent virus from replicating. In addition, these cells also prime the downstream adaptive immune response including induction of killer T cells that are required to kill the virus. The innate immune response occurs very early within 1-2 days of infection. Emerging data from studies indicates that the killer T cell response is decreased in subjects with severe disease. Data regarding functions of dendritic cells and monocytes in the high risk population is limited. It is difficult to study the response of these cell populations in the COVID-19 infected patients as by the time they are diagnosed with the disease; innate immune response is primarily over. Our hypothesis is that the functions of dendritic cells and monocytes are changed in the high risk individuals rendering them more susceptible to COVID-19. We plan to determine the changes in the functions of these cells in the high risk subjects (elderly and those with underlying conditions) by comparing them to healthy subjects. We hope that the information will help develop therapeutic and preventative measures to protect the vulnerable population.
Amount: $195,000
Start date: 2020-11-01
Investigators: Anshu Agrawal, Anshu Agrawal
Institution: University of California, Irvine
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: g9282b
OpenAlex ID: G1672070779