Interferon-lambda: New role in intestinal symptoms of COVID-19

World J Gastroenterol. 2023 Apr 7;29(13):1942-1954. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i13.1942.ABSTRACTThe tremendous public health and economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a huge challenge globally. There is increasing evidence that SARS-CoV-2 induces intestinal infections. Type III interferon (IFN-λ) has an antiviral role in intestinal infection, with focused, long-lasting, and non-inflammatory characteristics. This review presents a summary of the structure of SARS-CoV-2, including its invasion and immune escape mechanisms. Emphasis was placed on the gastrointestinal impact of SARS-CoV-2, including changes to the intestinal microbiome, activation of immune cells, and inflammatory responses. We also describe the comprehensive functions of IFN-λ in anti-enteric SARS-CoV-2 infection, and discuss the potential application of IFN-λ as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19 with intestinal symptoms.PMID:37155525 | PMC:PMC10122791 | DOI:10.3748/wjg.v29.i13.1942
Source: World Journal of Gastroenterology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research