AUTHOR=Bekele Yonas , Sui Yongjun , Berzofsky Jay A. 

TITLE=IL-7 in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and as a Potential Vaccine Adjuvant

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.737406

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.737406

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>IL-7/IL-7R signaling is critical for development, maturation, maintenance and survival of many lymphocytes in the thymus and periphery. IL-7 has been used as immunotherapy in pre-clinical and clinical studies to treat cancer, HIV infection and sepsis. Here, we discuss the critical function of IL-7 in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. We also summarize a promising role of IL-7 as a vaccine adjuvant. It could potentially enhance the immune responses to vaccines especially against SARS-CoV-2 or other new vaccines.</p>