Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2025
Monitoring PD-1-Blocking Antibodies Bound to T Cells Derived from a Drop of Peripheral Blood
Published on: February 5, 2020
Potential protective role of the anti-PD-1 blockade against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Annoor Awadasseid1, Qiang Yin2, Yanling Wu3
1Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Department of Biochemistry & Food Sciences, University of Kordofan, El-Obeid 51111, Sudan.
Insights
Restoring exhausted T-cells may combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Anti-PD-1 antibodies show promise in treating COVID-19 by restoring T-cell function, leading to new clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Oncology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, presents uncertainties regarding its impact on patients undergoing immunotherapy.
- SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to T-cell exhaustion in both mice and humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential protective role of anti-PD-1 blockade against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To explore the hypothesis that restoring exhausted T-cells could be a therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on T-cell exhaustion in viral infections and immunotherapy.
- Analysis of findings from clinical trials investigating anti-PD-1 antibodies for COVID-19.
Main Results:
- Anti-PD-1 antibody treatment can restore T-cell competence in viral-infected subjects.
- Four clinical trials are evaluating anti-PD-1 antibodies for COVID-19 patients.
Conclusions:
- Restoration of exhausted T-cells presents a potential therapeutic avenue for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Anti-PD-1 blockade may offer a protective strategy against COVID-19, warranting further investigation.
Abstract:
The outbreak of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and its global dissemination became the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. In patients undergoing immunotherapy, the effect and path of viral infection remain uncertain. In addition, viral-infected mice and humans show T-cell exhaustion, which is identified after infection with SARS-CoV-2. Notably, they regain their T-cell competence and effectively prevent viral infection when treated with anti-PD-1 antibodies. Four clinical trials are officially open to evaluate anti-PD-1 antibody administration's effectiveness for cancer and non-cancer individuals influenced by COVID-19 based on these findings. The findings may demonstrate the hypothesis that a winning strategy to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection could be the restoration of exhausted T-cells. In this review, we outline the potential protective function of the anti-PD-1 blockade against SARS-CoV-2 infection with the aim to develop SARS-CoV-2 therapy.
More Related Videos
07:04Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology
Published on: May 2, 2025
10:18Author Spotlight: Magnetic Fluorescent Bead-Based Dual-Reporter Flow Analysis of PDL1-Vaxx Peptide Vaccine-Induced Antibody Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction
Published on: July 7, 2023
Related Concept Videos
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...