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. 2020 May 1;130(5):2202-2205.
doi: 10.1172/JCI137647.

SARS-CoV-2: a storm is raging

Savannah F Pedersen, Ya-Chi Ho

SARS-CoV-2: a storm is raging

Savannah F Pedersen et al. J Clin Invest. .

Abstract

The pandemic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is rapidly spreading across the globe. In this issue of the JCI, Chen and colleagues compared the clinical and immunological characteristics between moderate and severe COVID-19. The authors found that respiratory distress on admission is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Increased cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α), lymphopenia (in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), and decreased IFN-γ expression in CD4+ T cells are associated with severe COVID-19. Overall, this study characterized the cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 and provides insights into immune therapeutics and vaccine design.

Keywords: COVID-19.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Cytokine storm and T cell lymphopenia is associated with COVID-19 severity.
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19. Compared with uninfected individuals (left panel), moderate COVID-19 cases exhibit an increase in IL-6 and a decrease in total T lymphocyte counts, particularly CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells (middle panel). Severe COVID-19 cases have further increased production of IL-6, IL-2R, IL-10, and TNF-α, while total T lymphocytes, particularly CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, and IFN-γ–expressing CD4+ T cells markedly decrease (right panel). The level of cytokine storm and T cell lymphopenia is associated with pulmonary damage, respiratory distress, and unfavorable outcome. ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; CRP, C-reactive protein; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.
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  • Clinical and immunological features of severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019

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