AUTHOR=Cremoni Marion , Allouche Jonathan , Graça Daisy , Zorzi Kevin , Fernandez Céline , Teisseyre Maxime , Benzaken Sylvia , Ruetsch-Chelli Caroline , Esnault Vincent L. M. , Dellamonica Jean , Carles Michel , Barrière Jérôme , Ticchioni Michel , Brglez Vesna , Seitz-Polski Barbara TITLE=Low baseline IFN-γ response could predict hospitalization in COVID-19 patients JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.953502 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.953502 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread rapidly around the world causing millions of deaths. Several treatments can reduce mortality and hospitalization. However, their efficacy depends on the choice of the molecule and the precise timing of its administration to ensure viral clearance and avoid a deleterious inflammatory response. Here, we investigated IFN-γ, assessed by a functional immunoassay, as a predictive biomarker for the risk of hospitalization at an early stage of infection or within one month prior to infection. Individuals with IFN-γ levels below 15 IU/mL were 6.57-times more likely to be hospitalized than those with higher values (p<0.001). As confirmed by multivariable analysis, low IFN-γ levels, age >65 years, and no vaccination were independently associated with hospitalization. In addition, we found a significant inverse correlation between low IFN-γ response and high level of IL-6 in plasma (Spearman’s rho=-0.38, p=0.003). Early analysis of the IFN-γ response in a contact or recently infected subject with SARS-CoV-2 could predict hospitalization and thus help the clinician to choose the appropriate treatment avoiding severe forms of infection and hospitalization.