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Oncolytic effect of SARS-CoV2 in a patient with NK lymphoma.

Authors :
Pasin F
Mascalchi Calveri M
Calabrese A
Pizzarelli G
Bongiovanni I
Andreoli M
Cattaneo C
Rignanese G
Source :
Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis [Acta Biomed] 2020 Jul 13; Vol. 91 (3), pp. ahead of print. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jul 13.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Covid-19 infection was a possible causal factor in the exhaustion and decrease number of NK clonal cells, resulting in a evident improvement of signs, symptoms and clinical features related to NK lymphoma refractory to previous immuno-chemiotherapy. It has been shown that SARS-CoV2 binds to ACE2. Covid-19 may infect NK cells to suppress their functions, as NK cells express angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines in Covid-19 infection may have played a crucial role in lymphodepletion. Although not published in Covid-19, other RNA viruses that cause acute pulmonary infections promote NK cell apoptosis. In NK/T-cell lymphoma plasma EBV-DNA is a sensitive surrogate biomarker of lymphoma load. In this case, we also notice a dramatic transient reduction in plasmatic EBV-DNA viral copies during Covid-19 pneumonia other than NK clonal cells reduction, and after the infection resolution we described a lymphoma relapse as well as EBV-DNA increase and the rising in NK clonal cells count. Although the mechanism leading to spontaneous remission remain uncharacterized, we hypothezised that a favorable adaptive immunity against concurrent viral infection could render an enhanced anti-tumor effect. We suppose COVID-19 infection have induced a transient remission in this patient affected with NK neoplasm.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2531-6745
Volume :
91
Issue :
3
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
32921739
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i3.10141