How could we forget immunometabolism in SARS-CoV2 infection or COVID-19?

Int Rev Immunol. 2021;40(1-2):72-107. doi: 10.1080/08830185.2020.1840567. Epub 2020 Nov 6.

Abstract

SARS-CoV2 infection or COVID-19 has created panic around the world since its first origin in December 2019 in Wuhan city, China. The COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 46.4 million people, with 1,199,727 deaths. The immune system plays a crucial role in the severity of COVID-19 and the development of pneumonia-induced acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Along with providing protection, both innate and T cell-based adaptive immune response dysregulate during severe SARS-CoV2 infection. This dysregulation is more pronounced in older population and patients with comorbidities (Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, other pulmonary and autoimmune diseases). However, COVID-19 patients develop protective antibodies (Abs) against SARS-CoV2, but they do not long for last. The induction of the immune response against the pathogen also requires metabolic energy that generates through the process of immunometabolism. The change in the metabolic stage of immune cells from homeostasis to an inflammatory or infectious environment is called immunometabolic reprogramming. The article describes the cellular immunology (macrophages, T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, NK cells and pulmonary epithelial cells (PEC) and vascular endothelial cells) and the associated immune response during COVID-19. Immunometabolism may serve as a cell-specific therapeutic approach to target COVID-19.

Keywords: SARS-CoV2; B cells; COVID-19; T cells; immunity; immunometabolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • COVID-19 / immunology
  • COVID-19 / pathology*
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / immunology
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / pathology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology