Figure 7.

Effect of baricitinib treatment on the lower airway of SARS-CoV-2-infected RMs

(A) SARS-Cov-2 infection in RMs results in an accumulation of inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils in the lower airway. These airway macrophages produce high amounts of inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil-attracting chemokines and show upregulated type I interferon signaling. Neutrophil NETs and the inflammation induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection both contribute to lung pathology.

(B) Baricitinib treatment reduced the levels of macrophages producing inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil-attracting chemokines, decreased the infiltration of neutrophils into the lung, and reduced T cell activation. The Netosis activity of neutrophils was also reduced. In treated animals, the antiviral interferon response was maintained, viral replication was not impacted, and lung pathology was mild.