Immunopathogenesis of COVID-19: Summary and Possible Interventions

• Main Authors: Francois Henri Jacques, Erik Apedaile
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-09-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: COVID-19; immunology; intervention; hyperinflammation; immunosuppression
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2020.564925/full

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2019 over 4 million people have been infected and over 280,000 have died (1). Information about the SARS-CoV2 virus is evolving rapidly. At this time there are no interventions proven to be effective for cases infected with SARS-CoV2. Current knowledge about the clinical and laboratory manifestations of COVID-19 infection is reviewed and combined with knowledge about the immunopathogenic mechanisms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV1) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to formulate theories and suggest possible therapeutic interventions. SARS-CoV2 immunopathogenic mechanisms vary from immunosuppression that initially enables viral escape to a hyperinflammatory immune response. Ultimately therapeutic intervention will be phase dependent.