Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can trigger a cytokine storm in the pulmonary tissue by releasing various types of mediators, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as well as CD4+ T lymphopenia is reported in cases with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), meanwhile lymphopenia is a significant finding in the majority of COVID-19 cases with severe phenotype. Moreover, excessive activation of monocyte/macrophage and cytokine storms is associated with the severity of the disease and the related complications in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Understanding the immune response dysregulation in COVID-19 is essential to develop more effective diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic strategies in this pandemic. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Dysregulation of the Immune Response in COVID-19