A myeloid program associated with COVID-19 severity is decreased by therapeutic blockade of IL-6 signaling.

ABSTRACT: Altered myeloid inflammation and lymphopenia are hallmarks of severe infections. We identified the upregulated EN-RAGE gene program in airway and blood myeloid cells from patients with acute lung injury from SARS-CoV-2 or other causes across 7 cohorts. This program was associated with greater clinical severity and predicted future mechanical ventilation and death. EN-RAGE^hi myeloid cells express features consistent with suppressor cell functionality, including low HLA-DR and high PD-L1. Sustained EN-RAGE program expression in airway and blood myeloid cells correlated with clinical severity and increasing expression of T cell dysfunction markers. IL-6 upregulated many EN-RAGE program genes in monocytes in vitro. IL-6 signaling blockade by tocilizumab in a placebo-controlle

SUBMITTER: Hackney JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10551843 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature