Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanni Zarrilli, Valentina Angerilli, Gianluca Businello, Marta Sbaraglia, Giulia Traverso, Francesco Fortarezza, Stefania Rizzo, Monica De Gaspari, Cristina Basso, Fiorella Calabrese, Angelo Paolo Dei Tos, Matteo Fassan
Summary: The histopathologic alterations in COVID-19 patients primarily occur in the lungs and blood vessels, with the highest clinical impact. However, many of the collected morphological data so far are nonspecific, erratic, and possibly associated with other co-existing factors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Salvatore Corrao, Raffaella Mallaci Bocchio, Marika Lo Monaco, Giuseppe Natoli, Attilio Cavezzi, Emidio Troiani, Christiano Argano
Summary: COVID-19 has become a major global public health challenge with no proven specific antiviral drugs currently available. Nutraceutical supplements such as vitamin D, vitamin C, melatonin, and zinc may have some impact on the inflammatory state and immune system function of patients, potentially offering a strategy to mitigate the worst outcomes of the pandemic.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Evgeny Shchetinin, Vladimir Baturin, Eduard Arushanyan, Albert Bolatchiev, Dmitriy Bobryshev
Summary: This review discusses the potential therapeutic use of melatonin in COVID-19 treatment. Based on fundamental studies and clinical observations, melatonin is believed to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, making it an effective addition to the methods of prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Review
Immunology
Jiayu Zhang, Xuejing Ma, Fuwei Liu, Deju Zhang, Jitao Ling, Zicheng Zhu, Yixuan Chen, Pingping Yang, Yanlin Yang, Xiao Liu, Jing Zhang, Jianping Liu, Peng Yu
Summary: 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Severe cases of COVID-19 are associated with a cytokine storm, characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown a higher severity of necrobiosis infection in diabetic patients, as well as higher morbidity and mortality in people with chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Additionally, COVID-19 may result in hyperglycemia in infected individuals. This review explores the potential relationship between NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles in diabetes and COVID-19, and discusses the cellular/molecular mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 infection activates NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles. Finally, several promising targeted NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle inhibitors are proposed as a basis for clinical management of patients with diabetes combined with noncoronary pneumonia.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Hayder M. Al-kuraishy, Ali Ismail Al-Gareeb, Gomaa Mostafa-Hedeab, Keneth Iceland Kasozi, Gerald Zirintunda, Akhmed Aslam, Mamdouh Allahyani, Susan Christina Welburn, Gaber El-Saber Batiha
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to respiratory issues and excessive immune response, potentially resulting in multi-organ failure. The use of anti-inflammatory and anti-adrenergic agents can alleviate symptoms and prevent the development of a neural-cytokine loop.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wern Hann Ng, Patrick Chun Hean Tang, Suresh Mahalingam, Xiang Liu
Summary: A cytokine storm is a major cause of ARDS and sepsis-associated multiple organ failure in respiratory viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Repurposing immunosuppressive drugs targeting cytokines is a promising approach to counteract SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS. This minireview examines drugs targeting IL-1 beta, IL-4/IL-13, IL-6, and TNF-alpha tested in COVID-19 patients.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Corrado Pelaia, Cecilia Calabrese, Eugenio Garofalo, Andrea Bruni, Alessandro Vatrella, Girolamo Pelaia
Summary: The article discusses the rationale for using tocilizumab in the SARS-CoV-2-induced cytokine storm, current evidence, and future perspectives, focusing on its therapeutic effects in patients with life-threatening SARS-CoV-2 infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Subhasish Maity, Ayantika Santra, Ananda Vardhan Hebbani, Swetha Pulakuntla, Ankita Chatterjee, Kameswara Rao Badri, Vaddi Damodara Reddy
Summary: The global pandemic COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious disease with diverse symptoms and a phenomenon called cytokine storm plays a damaging role in escalating the severity of the disease. Understanding COVID-19 associated cytokine storm and differentiating it from regular cytokine production response is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jianxiong Zeng, Xiaochun Xie, Xiao-Li Feng, Ling Xu, Jian-Bao Han, Dandan Yu, Qing-Cui Zou, Qianjin Liu, Xiaohong Li, Guanqin Ma, Ming-Hua Li, Yong-Gang Yao
Summary: The study found that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a crucial role in the lungs during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and inhibiting this inflammasome can reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines related to COVID-19 in cells and mice. Therefore, targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome could be a promising immune intervention against severe COVID-19 disease.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Saniya Rizvi, Michael Danic, Mark Silver, Virginia LaBond
Summary: COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems worldwide, leading to a variety of potential treatment modalities for patients with different disease severity, including the use of Cytosorbents (R) cytokine filter to reduce cytokine storm. The cytokine storm can cause devastating damage to vital organs, and this treatment method serves as a bridge for therapy in acutely ill patients.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Nicki Panoskaltsis
Summary: Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a result of ongoing inflammation and tissue damage caused by massive pro-inflammatory cytokine release. CRS, triggered by COVID-19, has become a defining feature of severe cases, prompting the need for treatment approaches based on pathophysiology and cytokine storm.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Virology
Muhammad Suhaib Qudus, Mingfu Tian, Summan Sirajuddin, Siyu Liu, Uzair Afaq, Muneeba Wali, Jinbiao Liu, Pan Pan, Zhen Luo, Qiwei Zhang, Ge Yang, Pin Wan, Yongkui Li, Jianguo Wu
Summary: In severe cases of COVID-19, a cytokine storm, characterized by excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and even death. Key pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and IL-10 have been found in severe COVID-19, and they play a role in amplifying pro-inflammatory responses through complex inflammatory networks. Understanding the involvement of these cytokines in SARS-CoV-2 infection and their role in triggering or regulating cytokine storm can provide insight into the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. Currently, there are limited effective therapeutic strategies for cytokine storm, with glucocorticoids being used but also causing fatal side effects. Identifying key cytokines and developing targeted interventions, such as neutralizing antibodies or inhibitors of inflammatory signal pathways, may help improve treatment options.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yihua Zhang, Bowen Xin, Yinan Liu, Wenyi Jiang, Wendong Han, Jian Deng, Peihui Wang, Xiaowu Hong, Dapeng Yan
Summary: This study reveals a previously unknown mechanism by which the SARS-COV-2 protein NSP9 promotes cytokine storm and tissue damage. NSP9 interacts with and activates TBK1, leading to increased cytokine production. Additionally, NSP9 is ubiquitinated and degraded by MID1, but virus infection inhibits this degradation process. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and present a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Sri Wulandari, Tri Hartono, Tri Wibawa
Summary: Hyperinflammation characterized by cytokine storms is the major cause of severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Increased HMGB1 levels in COVID-19 patients positively correlate with proinflammatory cytokines. HMGB1 released by dead cells, along with SARS-CoV-2 RNA, triggers massive proinflammatory responses. This review explores the pathways and mechanisms by which HMGB1-SARS-CoV-2 RNA complexes mediate inflammation and contribute to cytokine storms, and discusses the potential therapeutic value of HMGB1 antagonists.
Article
Immunology
Federica Saponaro, Maria Franzini, Chukwuma Okoye, Rachele Antognoli, Beatrice Campi, Marco Scalese, Tommaso Neri, Laura Carrozzi, Fabio Monzani, Riccardo Zucchi, Alessandro Celi, Aldo Paolicchi, Alessandro Saba
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients. The findings suggest that hypovitaminosis D is associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers and is related to disease severity and prognosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Maiko Arao, Takahiro Yajima
Summary: The study aimed to examine the relationships between CT-based abdominal sarcopenic indices and bio-impedance analysis (BIA)-based skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) in hemodialyzed patients. The results showed significant correlations between the CT-based sarcopenic indices and the BIA-based SMMI. The CT-based abdominal sarcopenic indices may be useful for evaluating muscle wasting in these patients.
CLINICAL NUTRITION ESPEN
(2024)
