The many faces of the anti-COVID immune response

J Exp Med. 2020 Jun 1;217(6):e20200678. doi: 10.1084/jem.20200678.

Abstract

The novel 2019 strain of coronavirus is a source of profound morbidity and mortality worldwide. Compared with recent viral outbreaks, COVID-19 infection has a relatively high mortality rate, the reasons for which are not entirely clear. Furthermore, treatment options for COVID-19 infection are currently limited. In this Perspective, we explore the contributions of the innate and adaptive immune systems to both viral control as well as toxicity during COVID-19 infections and offer suggestions to both understand and therapeutically modulate anti-COVID immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / drug effects
  • Adaptive Immunity / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / immunology
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / pathology
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / pathology
  • Hypoxia / therapy
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Lymphopenia / immunology
  • Lymphopenia / pathology
  • Lymphopenia / therapy
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / immunology
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / pathogenicity
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / pathology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Interleukin-6