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How does the Immunological System Change during the SARS-COV-2 Attack? A Clue for the New Immunotherapy Discovery
Mohammad Mahdi Hajihasani1, Najmeh Kaffash Farkhad2,3, Ali Mahmoudi3,4
1Department of Pharmaceutical Control, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) is one of the biggest unsolved global problems of the 21st century for which there has been no definitive cure yet. Like other respiratory viruses, SARS-COV-2 triggers the host immunity dramatically, causing dysfunction in the immune system, both innate and adaptive, which is a common feature of COVID-19 patients. Evidence shows that in the early stages of COVID-19, the immune system is suppressed while it is overactive in severe patients characterized by excessive and prolonged inflammatory responses called "Cytokine Storm". There are many elements in the immune system that undergo alterations as the disease progresses. Some significant changes in the innate immune system following infection with SARS-COV-2 include delayed or inhibited interferon type 1 production by the infected cells leading to elevated virus replication, excessive recruitment of activated monocytes and macrophages, decrease in eosinophil population (eosinopenia), consequent decrease in CD8+T lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell dysfunction, and increase in neutrophil infiltration (neutrophilia) and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Moreover, hallmark alterations in the adaptive immune system in this process cause an overall decrease in the T lymphocyte number (lymphopenia) and changes in the activity of some lymphocyte subsets and a number of B cells. This review delves into the mentioned changes in the immune system following SARS-COV-2 infection and the implications thereof to guide the development of immunotherapies for patients with COVID-19.
Insights
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) infection dysregulates both innate and adaptive immunity, leading to immune suppression or overactivation. Understanding these immune changes is crucial for developing effective COVID-19 immunotherapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology and Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, presents significant global health challenges with no definitive cure.
- SARS-COV-2 infection profoundly impacts the host immune system, causing dysfunction in both innate and adaptive immunity.
- Immune responses vary, with early stages showing suppression and severe cases exhibiting an overactive inflammatory response (Cytokine Storm).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and detail the immune system alterations following SARS-COV-2 infection.
- To explore the implications of these immune changes for COVID-19 pathogenesis.
- To guide the development of novel immunotherapies for COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- This is a review article, synthesizing existing research on immune responses to SARS-COV-2.
- Analysis of documented changes in innate and adaptive immune cells and their functions.
- Examination of the progression of immune dysregulation throughout the course of COVID-19.
Main Results:
- Innate immune alterations include impaired interferon type 1 production, increased monocytes/macrophages, eosinopenia, NK cell dysfunction, neutrophilia, and NET formation.
- Adaptive immune changes involve lymphopenia, altered T lymphocyte subsets, and modified B cell populations.
- These immune dysregulations contribute to viral replication and severe disease manifestations.
Conclusions:
- SARS-COV-2 infection triggers complex and significant immune system alterations.
- Targeting these specific immune dysfunctions holds promise for developing effective COVID-19 immunotherapies.
- Further research into immune modulation is essential for managing COVID-19.
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