What triggers inflammation in COVID-19?

Tomohiro Sawa; Takaaki Akaike

doi:10.7554/eLife.76231

What triggers inflammation in COVID-19?

Elife. 2022 Jan 20:11:e76231. doi: 10.7554/eLife.76231.

Authors

Tomohiro Sawa¹, Takaaki Akaike²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
² Department of Environmental Medicine and Molecular Toxicology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

Abstract

The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 triggers macrophages and epithelial cells to produce excess levels of pro-inflammatory molecules, which can do more harm than good.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; TLR2; cytokine storm; immunology; inflammation; spike protein; viruses.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / virology*
Cytokines / metabolism*
Humans
Inflammation / virology*
Macrophages / metabolism
SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism

Substances

Cytokines
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus