Immune response and cytokine storm in SARS-CoV-2 infection: Risk factors, ways of control and treatment

Abstract

In 2020, a deadly pandemic caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus spread worldwide and killed many people. In some viral infections, in addition to the pathogenic role of the virus, impaired immune function leads to inflammation and further damage in internal tissues. For example, coronavirus in some patients prevents the stimulation of the acquired immune system. Therefore, innate immunity is over-stimulated to compensate, followed by the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and cytokine storm. Various underlying factors such as age, gender, blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity affect cytokine storm. It seems that cytokine storm is one of the leading causes of death among COVID-19 patients, and providing that this storm is detected and controlled in time, it can reduce the mortality of COVID-19 patients. This article aims to investigate the immune system response to COVID-19, various factors associated with cytokine storm, and its treatment. In the current situation, in parallel with the progress made in the field of vaccination, it is necessary to carefully examine the various dimensions of the immune system in response to the COVID-19 virus to seek a suitable treatment strategy to save the lives of patients in intensive care units