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. 2006 Feb 15;78(4):417–424. doi: 10.1002/jmv.20556

Cytokine regulation in SARS coronavirus infection compared to other respiratory virus infections†

Tamaki Okabayashi 1, Hiroaki Kariwa 2, Shin‐ichi Yokota 1, Shigeo Iki 1, Tomokazu Indoh 1, Noriko Yokosawa 1, Ikuo Takashima 2, Hiroyuki Tsutsumi 3, Nobuhiro Fujii 1,✉
PMCID: PMC7166776  PMID: 16482545

Abstract

The pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is poorly understood and cytokine dysregulation has been suggested as one relevant mechanism to be explored. We compared the cytokine profile in Caco2 cells after infection of SARS coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) with other respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A virus (FluAV), and human parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV2). Interferon (IFN) system (production and response) was not suppressed by SARS‐CoV infection. Therefore, SARS‐CoV replication was suppressed by pretreatment with IFN. SARS‐CoV and RSV induced high levels of IL‐6 and RANTES compared with FluAV and hPIV2. Induction level of suppressor of cytokine signaling‐3 (SOCS3) by SARS‐CoV was significantly lower than that by RSV in spite of the significant production of IL‐6. Toll‐like receptors 4 and 9, which correlate with the induction of inflammatory response, were upregulated by SARS‐CoV infection. Collectively, overinduction of inflammatory cytokine and dysregulation of cytokine signaling may contribute to the immunopathology associated with “severe” inflammation in SARS. J. Med. Virol. 78:417–424, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Keywords: SARS‐CoV, SOCS3, cytokine, IL‐6, IFN, TLR

†

This work was performed at Department of Microbiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Laboratory of Public Health, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, and Special Pathogens Laboratory, Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

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