RIG012 assists in the treatment of pneumonia by inhibiting the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway.

Abstract

Objective: Pneumonia is a common clinical condition primarily treated with antibiotics and organ support. Exploring the pathogenesis to identify therapeutic targets may aid in the adjunct treatment of pneumonia and improve survival rates.

Methods: Transcriptomic data from peripheral blood of 183 pneumonia patients were analyzed using Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and univariate Cox regression analysis to identify signaling pathways associated with pneumonia mortality. A pneumonia mouse model was established via airway injection of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and pathway-specific blockers were administered via tail vein infusion to assess whether the identified signaling pathways impact the mortality in pneumonia.

Results: The combination of GSVA and Cox analysis revealed 17 signaling pathways significantly associated with 28-day mortality in pneumonia patients (P < 0.05). Notably, the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway exhibited the highest hazard ratio of 2.501 with a 95% confidence interval of [1.223-5.114]. Infusion of RIG012 via the tail vein effectively inhibited the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, significantly ameliorated lung injury in pneumonia mice, reduced pulmonary inflammatory responses, and showed a trend toward improved survival rates.

Conclusion: RIG012 may represent a novel adjunctive therapeutic agent for pneumonia.