Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Saliba

Institute:  Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based infection research, University of Würzburg

Abstract: The basis of lung injury induced by SARS-CoV-2 remains poorly understood. In the severe COVID-19 cases, patients develop COVID-19-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) with prolonged respiratory failure and high mortality. To comprehend the pathomechanisms of lung damage, we analyzed pulmonary immune responses and lung pathology in patients with COVID-19 ARDS using functional single-cell genomics, immunohistology, and electron microscopy. Phenotypically, we observed an accumulation of CD163-expressing monocyte-derived macrophages that acquired a profibrotic transcriptional phenotype during COVID-19 ARDS. COVID-19 ARDS was associated with clinical, radiographic, and histopathological characteristics of pulmonary fibrosis. Exposure of human monocytes to SARS-CoV-2, but not influenza A or viral RNA analogs, was sufficient to induce a similar profibrotic phenotype in vitro. Yet, the role of macrophages remains intriguing, and we will discuss whether they are friends or foes.

Chair: Karen Auweiler