Hyperinflammation and Immune Response Generation in COVID-19

Neuroimmunomodulation. 2020;27(2):80-86. doi: 10.1159/000513198. Epub 2020 Dec 18.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide. The pathophysiology of this virus is not very clearly known, thus, enormous efforts are being made by the scientific community to delineate its evading mechanism. In this review, we have summarized the hyperinflammation and humoral and cell-mediated immune response generated in human body after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The inflammatory response generated after infection by increased proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and complement proteins activation may likely contribute to disease severity. We also discussed the other factors that may affect immunity and could be important comorbidities in the disease severity and outcome.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cytokine; Immunity; Inflammation; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / immunology
  • Alarmins / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • Complement Activation / immunology
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology*
  • Immunity, Humoral / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Alarmins