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The immunology and immunotherapy for COVID-19

Part of: Molecular understanding of Covid pathogenesis, immunity and therapeutics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2021

Yixin Liu ,
Xinsheng Zhou ,
Xuan Liu  and
Xiaotao Jiang Open the ORCID record for Xiaotao Jiang [Opens in a new window]
Yixin Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Xinsheng Zhou
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Xuan Liu*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Xiaotao Jiang*
Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
*
Authors for correspondence: Xuan Liu, E-mail: liuxuan515@qq.com; Xiaotao Jiang, E-mail: jxt_go@foxmail.com
Authors for correspondence: Xuan Liu, E-mail: liuxuan515@qq.com; Xiaotao Jiang, E-mail: jxt_go@foxmail.com
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Abstract

The ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and significantly impacts the world economy and daily life. Symptoms of COVID-19 range from asymptomatic to fever, dyspnoea, acute respiratory distress and multiple organ failure. Critical cases often occur in the elderly and patients with pre-existing conditions. By binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, SARS-CoV-2 can enter and replicate in the host cell, exerting a cytotoxic effect and causing local and systemic inflammation. Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, and immunotherapy has consistently attracted attention because of its essential role in boosting host immunity to the virus and reducing overwhelming inflammation. In this review, we summarise the immunopathogenic features of COVID-19 and highlight recent advances in immunotherapy to illuminate ideas for the development of new potential therapies.

Keywords

Cellular exhaustionCOVID-19cytokine stormimmunopathologyimmunotherapySARS-CoV-2
Type
Review
Information
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine , Volume 23 , 2021 , e24
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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