From H1N1 to 2019-nCoV, what do we learn?

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Systemic Biology
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for effective treatments against life-threatening infections.
• Historical pandemics, like the 1918 influenza, underscore the devastating impact of widespread infectious diseases.
• Current sepsis definitions and treatments have not significantly reduced mortality rates, indicating a need for novel approaches.

Discussion:

• Both H1N1 influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) viruses may ultimately lead to death through sepsis.
• Sepsis is characterized by a systemic imbalance rather than a single disease entity.
• The complexity of immune responses, involving neurotransmitters and endocrine hormones, challenges traditional sepsis management.

Key Insights:

• Sepsis represents a systemic dysregulation following infection or trauma, not merely an inflammatory or immunosuppressive state.
• A comprehensive, systemic biology approach, termed 'inflammationomics,' is proposed to understand and manage sepsis.
• This new perspective may offer a path toward improved sepsis diagnostics and therapeutics.

Outlook:

• Further research into inflammationomics could revolutionize sepsis treatment strategies.
• Understanding the systemic nature of sepsis is vital for developing targeted interventions.
• The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a critical juncture for re-evaluating our approach to sepsis and systemic infections.