Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Immunological Aspects Related to Viral Infections in Severe Asthma and the Role of Omalizumab

Francesco Menzella
* ORCID logo ,
Giulia Ghidoni
,
Carla Galeone
,
Silvia Capobelli
,
Chiara Scelfo
,
Nicola Cosimo Facciolongo
Version 1 : Received: 23 March 2021 / Approved: 24 March 2021 / Online: 24 March 2021 (16:15:51 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 25 March 2021 / Approved: 26 March 2021 / Online: 26 March 2021 (10:55:06 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Menzella, F.; Ghidoni, G.; Galeone, C.; Capobelli, S.; Scelfo, C.; Facciolongo, N.C. Immunological Aspects Related to Viral Infections in Severe Asthma and the Role of Omalizumab. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 348. Menzella, F.; Ghidoni, G.; Galeone, C.; Capobelli, S.; Scelfo, C.; Facciolongo, N.C. Immunological Aspects Related to Viral Infections in Severe Asthma and the Role of Omalizumab. Biomedicines 2021, 9, 348.

Abstract

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 very 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 is able to stabilize the effector cells 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 allows a great improvement in the management of asthma.

Keywords

viral respiratory infections; severe asthma; immune response; biologicals; omalizumab

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Immunology and Allergy

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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