The cytokine storm and COVID-19
Open accessAbstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has caused a large global pandemic and poses a serious threat to public health. More than 4 million cases of COVID-19, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have been confirmed as of 11 May 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic and transmissible coronavirus that primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. A growing body of clinical data suggests that a cytokine storm is associated with COVID-19 severity and is also a crucial cause of death from COVID-19. In the absence of antivirals and vaccines for COVID-19, there is an urgent need to understand the cytokine storm in COVID-19. Here, we have reviewed the current understanding of the features of SARS-CoV-2 and the pathological features, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatments of the cytokine storm induced by COVID-19. In addition, we suggest that the identification and treatment of the cytokine storm are important components for rescuing patients with severe COVID-19.
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IL-6 is a major player in chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer and cytokine storm.
“Among them, IL-6 is a major player in chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer and cytokine storm (1, 3, 10–26).”
From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [14]
ARDS in COVID-19 is considered the result of cytokine storm, resembling the disease caused by SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
“ARDS in COVID-19 is considered the result of cytokine storm (12–17), resembling the disease caused by SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (335).”
From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [14]
Severe COVID-19 is a cytokine storm syndrome.
“Consistent with the notion that severe COVID-19 is a cytokine storm syndrome (12–17, 336), the severity of COVID-19 is associated with an increased level of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and TNFα (333, 337).”
From IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer (2021) · cites this paper as [14]
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IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer
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- Authors
- Hu, B., Huang, S., & Yin, L.
- Affiliations
- Jinan University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Yin, Lianghong
- Venue
- Journal of Medical Virology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-09-30
- Volume
- 93
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 250-256
- ISSN
- 0146-6615 (ISSN-L)
- 1096-9071
- PMC
- PMC7361342
- OpenAlex
- W3037185429
- Cited by
- 1,655
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 84 · 2025: 173 · 2024: 266 · 2023: 416 · 2022: 377 · 2021: 272 · 2020: 64 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 13.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Medical Virology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Keywords
- cytokine storm, COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, severe COVID-19, pathophysiology, COVID-19 mortality, viral pathogenesis
- MeSH terms
- Cytokine Release Syndrome, COVID-19, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Lung, Severity of Illness Index
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