Immunological profile and antiviral therapy of influenza with account for virus serotype
https://doi.org/10.25587/2587-5590-2026-3-36-54
Abstract
The clinical efficacy of antiviral therapy (AVT) in moderate influenza, its dependence on virus serotype, and the contribution of interferon-inducer augmentation (kagocel) to the baseline regimen remain under active discussion. Aim. To characterise the immunological profile and clinical–laboratory efficacy of four AVT regimens in patients with moderate mono-influenza according to virus serotype and to evaluate the effect of Kagocel augmentation. 120 patients with laboratory-confirmed moderate influenza (30 per group: seasonal A(H1N1), A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), B) were examined in Vladivostok, 2016–2020. The control group comprised 31 apparently healthy donors. Four AVT regimens per serotype were used: umifenovir, umifenovir + kagocel, oseltamivir, oseltamivir + kagocel. Twenty-two immune, acute-phase, haematological and composite parameters (NLR, PLR, MLR, LMR, SII, SIRI) were assessed at admission (V1) and discharge (V2). Results. Pronounced systemic hypercytokinaemia was documented (IL-17, IL-18, TNF-α, IFN-α, CRP; all q<10-¹³); the highest IL-10 and IFN-γ response was observed in A(H1N1)pdm09, the weakest – in A(H3N2). All regimens produced comparable decline of cytokines and inflammatory indices. The maximal clinical effect of kagocel augmentation was seen in A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B. All AVT regimens produced comparable suppression of systemic inflammation. The augmentation with Kagocel demonstrated a serotype-specific clinical advantage without an additional cytokine-modulating effect. The oseltamivir + kagocel regimen provides the best integrated clinical profile.
Keywords
About the Authors
K. A. DmitrenkoRussian Federation
DMITRENKO, Ksenia Aleksandrovna, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Infectious Diseases
phone: +79502823816
ResearcherID: QWC-5891-2026
Vladivostok
A. I. Simakova
Russian Federation
SIMAKOVA, Anna Ivanovna, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases
ResearcherID: KBB-3207-2024, Scopus Author ID: 56450639000
Vladivostok
A. O. Mikhaylov
Russian Federation
MIKHAILOV, Aleksandr Olegovich, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases
ResearcherID: W-3040-2017, Scopus Author ID: 57194594910
Vladivostok
E. V. Markelova
Russian Federation
MARKELOVA, Elena Vladimirovna, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Department of Normal and Pathological Physiology
ResearcherID: A-6485-2016, Scopus Author ID: 6602426872
Vladivostok
A. I. Kirichenko
Russian Federation
KIRICHENKO, Alina Ivanovna, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases
Scopus Author ID: 57184281600
Vladivostok
V. A. Eremeeva
Russian Federation
EREMEEVA, Viktoria Ambartsumovna, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Infectious Diseases
Vladivostok
References
1. World Health Organization. Influenza (seasonal): fact sheet. Geneva: WHO; 2025. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal) (accessed: 12 September 2026).
2. Ryabkova V.A., Churilov L.P., Shoenfeld Y. Influenza infection, SARS, MERS and COVID-19: cytokine storm – the common denominator and the lessons to be learned. Clinical Immunology. 2021;223:108652. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108652
3. Alagarasu K., Kaushal H., Shinde P., et al. TNFA and IL10 polymorphisms and IL-6 and IL-10 levels influence disease severity in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infected patients. Genes (Basel). 2021;12(12):1914. doi: 10.3390/genes12121914
4. Kazantseva E.D., Petrova A.G., Rychkova L.V., Darenskaya M.A. Cytokines in influenza in children (literature review). Sibirskii Nauchnyi Meditsinskii Zhurnal. 2024;44(1):116–128 (in Russian). doi: 10.18699/SSMJ20240113
5. Savenkova M.S. Influenza: current topics of etiotropic drug selection. Pediatrics. Consilium Medicum. 2022;(3):223–228 (in Russian). doi: 10.26442/26586630.2022.3.201834
6. Sologub T.V., Tsvetkov V.V. Kagocel in the therapy of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections: data analysis and systematization from the results of preclinical and clinical trials. Terapevticheskii Arkhiv. 2017;89(8):113–119 (in Russian). doi: 10.17116/terarkh2017898113-119
7. Popov A.F., Simakova A.I., Dmitrenko K.A., Shchelkanov M.Yu. Increased anti-influenza efficacy of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and Umifenovir (Arbidol®) by combined use with Kagocel®. Antibiotiki i Khimioterapiya. 2017;62(1-2):12–16 (in Russian). Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/povyshenie-protivogrippoznoy-effektivnosti-oseltamivira-tamiflyu-i-umifenovira-arbidola-putyom-sochetannogo-primeneniya-s-kagotselom (accessed: 12 September 2026).
8. Xie Y., Yu Y., Zhao L., et al. Specific cytokine profiles predict the severity of influenza A pneumonia: a prospectively multicenter pilot study. BioMed Research International. 2021;2021:9533044. doi: 10.1155/2021/9533044
9. Borisova O.V., Bochkareva N.M., Polezhaeva N.S., et al. Experience of using an interferon inducer in the prevention of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in children. Meditsinskiy Sovet. 2023;(17):69–76 (in Russian). doi: 10.21518/ms2023-315
10. Gao Y., Guyatt G., Uyeki T.M., et al. Antivirals for treatment of severe influenza: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. The Lancet. 2024;404(10454):753–763. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01307-2
11. Surovenko T.N., Priseko L.G. The use of interferon preparations and its inducers in outpatient pediatric practice. Pacific Medical Journal. 2018;4:79–83. DOI: 10.17238/PmJ1609-1175.2018.4.79-83.
Review
For citations:
Dmitrenko K.A., Simakova A.I., Mikhaylov A.O., Markelova E.V., Kirichenko A.I., Eremeeva V.A. Immunological profile and antiviral therapy of influenza with account for virus serotype. Vestnik of North-Eastern Federal University. Medical Sciences. 2026;44(3):36-54. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25587/2587-5590-2026-3-36-54
JATS XML












