Triple immune modulator therapy for aberrant hyperinflammatory responses in severe COVID-19

Abstract

A dysregulated hyperinflammatory response is a key pathogenesis of severe COVID-19, but optimal immune modulator treatment has not been established. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of double (glucocorticoids and tocilizumab) and triple (plus baricitinib) immune modulator therapy for severe COVID-19, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. For the immunologic investigation, a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis was performed in serially collected PBMCs and neutrophil specimens. Triple immune modulator therapy was a significant factor in a multivariable analysis for 30-day recovery. In the scRNA-seq analysis, type I and II IFN response-related pathways were suppressed by GC, and the IL-6-associated signature was additionally downregulated by TOC. Adding BAR to GC and TOC distinctly downregulated the ISGF3 cluster. Adding BAR also regulated the pathologically activated monocyte and neutrophil subpopulation induced by aberrant IFN signals. Triple immune modulator therapy in severe COVID-19 improved 30-day recovery through additional regulation of the aberrant hyperinflammatory immune response.