Thymosin alpha 1 mitigates cytokine storm in blood cells from COVID-19 patients
Abstract COVID-19 is characterized by immune-mediated lung injury and complex alterations of the immune system, such as lymphopenia and cytokine storm, that have been associated with adverse outcomes underlining a fundamental role of host response in SARS-CoV-2 infection and the pathogenesis of the disease. Thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) is one of the molecules used in the management of COVID-19, since it is known to restore the homeostasis of the immune system during infections and cancer. Here we captured the interconnected biological processes regulated by Tα1 in CD8+ T cells under inflammatory conditions. Genes associated with cytokine signaling and production were found up-regulated in blood cells from COVID-19 patients and the ex-vivo treatment with Tα1 mitigated cytokines expression and inhibited lymphocytes activation in CD8+ T cell subset specifically, suggesting the potential role of Tα1 in modulating the immune response homeostasis and the cytokine storm in vivo.