IL-1 Mediates Tissue Specific Inflammation and Severe Respiratory Failure In Covid-19: Clinical And Experimental Evidence

ABSTRACT Background Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 has been associated with dysregulated immune responses leading to catastrophic inflammation. The activation pathways remain to be fully elucidated. We investigated the ability of circulating to induce dysregulated immune responses. Materials & Methods Calprotectin and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were associated with ARDS in 60 COVID-19 patients. In a second cohort of 40 COVID-19 patients calprotectin at hospital admission was associated with serum levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). A COVID-19 animal model was developed by intravenous injection of plasma from healthy volunteers or patients with COVID-19 ARDS into C57/BL6 mice once daily for 3 consecutive days. In separate experiments, mice were treated with a) the IL-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra or vehicle and b) Flo1-2a anti-murine anti-IL-1α monoclonal antibody or the specific anti-human IL-1α antibody XB2001, or isotype controls. Mice were sacrificed on day 4. Cytokines and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in tissues were measured. Results Calprotectin, but not HMGB1, was elevated ARDS. Higher suPAR readouts indicated higher calprotectin levels. CHallenge of mice with COVID-19 plasma led to inflammatory reactions in murine lung and intestines as evidenced by increased levels of TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ and MPO. Anakinra treatment brought these levels down. Similar decrease was found in mice treated with Flo1-2a but not with XB2001. Conclusion Circulating alarmins, specifically calprotectin, of critically ill COVID-19 patients induces tissue-specific inflammatory responses through an IL-1α mediated mechanism. This could be attenuated through inhibition of IL-1 receptor or specific inhibition of IL-1α.