Insights into the modulation of the interferon response and NAD+ in the context of COVID-19

Nada J Habeichi; Cynthia Tannous; Andriy Yabluchanskiy; Raffaele Altara; Mathias Mericskay; George W Booz; Fouad A Zouein

doi:10.1080/08830185.2021.1961768

Insights into the modulation of the interferon response and NAD⁺ in the context of COVID-19

Int Rev Immunol. 2022;41(4):464-474. doi: 10.1080/08830185.2021.1961768. Epub 2021 Aug 11.

Authors

Nada J Habeichi^{1

2}, Cynthia Tannous¹, Andriy Yabluchanskiy³, Raffaele Altara^{4

5

6}, Mathias Mericskay², George W Booz⁷, Fouad A Zouein¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon.
² Department of Signaling and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, UMR-S 1180, Châtenay-Malabry, France.
³ Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁴ Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ KG Jebsen Center for Cardiac Research, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
⁷ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.

PMID: 34378474
DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2021.1961768

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in dramatic worldwide mortality. Along with developing vaccines, the medical profession is exploring new strategies to curb this pandemic. A better understanding of the molecular consequences of SARS-CoV-2 cellular infection could lead to more effective and safer treatments. This review discusses the potential underlying impact of SARS-CoV-2 in modulating interferon (IFN) secretion and in causing mitochondrial NAD⁺ depletion that could be directly linked to COVID-19's deadly manifestations. What is known or surmised about an imbalanced innate immune response and mitochondrial dysfunction post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the potential benefits of well-timed IFN treatments and NAD⁺ boosting therapies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

Keywords: Innate immune system; SARS-CoV-2; mitochondrial dysfunction; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
COVID-19*
Humans
Interferons / therapeutic use
NAD
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Antiviral Agents
NAD
Interferons