Open AccessPotential therapeutic approaches for targeted inhibition of inflammatory cytokines following COVID-19 infection-induced cytokine storm
Author(s) -
Nelli Morgulchik,
Foteini Athanasopoulou,
Ernest H. Y. Chu,
Yoriko Lam,
Nazila Kamaly
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
interface focus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2042-8901
pISSN - 2042-8898
DOI - 10.1098/rsfs.2021.0006
Subject(s) - cytokine storm , ards , medicine , cytokine , immunology , cytokine release syndrome , intensive care medicine , disease , covid-19 , lung , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a deadly respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which has caused a global pandemic since early 2020 and severely threatened people's livelihoods and health. Patients with pre-diagnosed conditions admitted to hospital often develop complications leading to mortality due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and associated multiorgan failure and blood clots. ARDS is associated with a cytokine storm. Cytokine storms arise due to elevated levels of circulating cytokines and are associated with infections. Targeting various pro-inflammatory cytokines in a specific manner can result in a potent therapeutic approach with minimal host collateral damage. Immunoregulatory therapies are now of interest in order to regulate the cytokine storm, and this review will summarize and discuss advances in targeted therapies against cytokine storms induced by COVID-19.