Role of interferon Gamma in COVID-19 prevention - A review

Abstract

Aim: To study and determine the role of interferon-gamma in COVID-19 prevention. Objective: The objectives include studying and understand the role of gamma interferon to cure or treat COVID-19 patients, to stop the spread of infection, and also to prevent future outbreaks. MATERIALS AND METHODS-Review of literature by collecting and retrieving information from articles. Discussion: The coronavirus disease is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by SARS CoV-2. Interferons are a family of proteins that releases several cells in response to the infection caused by viruses. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are natural interferon producing cells. Interferons are involved in immune interactions and regulate viral mechanisms. Interferon-gamma binds to specific DNA elements. Patients suffering from nocturia, breast cancer, and diabetes mellitus are prone to cancer due to less immunity. Regenerative medicine for COVID-19 treatment can be helpful with the administration of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells which could prevent lung inflammation. Interferons exert and affect target cells through the activation of cell surface receptors. Inflammation is a complex immune response to pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants and enables survival during infection or injury and also maintains tissue homeostasis. The Stat-1 dimer complex, also known as GAF (gamma activation factor), activates the transcription of IFN-γ inducible genes through the GAS enhancer ele-ment. The innate production of interferon-gamma is a critical step in immunological defense mechanisms against viruses. The sources of gamma interferon in specific consist of activated natural killer cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The mediators of viral recognition that led to the production of interferons consist of a group of receptors located either in the cytoplasm or on the surface of endosomes; areas that allow these receptors to efficiently detect viral invasion. The virus is easily spreadable as it is highly contagious and spreads through close contact or droplets of infected people. This review highlights the role of gamma-interferon in COVID-19 prevention. Conclusion: The review highlights the role of gamma interferon in the prevention of COVID-19 to study and identify its role and mechanism to prevent and treat COVID-19. Interferons contain antiviral factors that produce fibroblasts after viral infections in which interferon-inducible PKR kinase catalyzes RNA degradation. Innate cell-mediated immunity through NK cells that stimu-lates specific cytotoxic immunity based on the recognition of cell surface-bound viral antigens expressed in major histocompat-ibility complex (MHC) proteins that activate macrophages which therefore activates the anti-viral and antimicrobial activity of interferon-gamma. Therefore, COVID-19 being a newly emerging virus, with no approved effective drug or vaccine, an intimate understanding of the role of interferons in prevention is essential to implement novel therapeutic strategies.