Cytokine Storm in Pathogenesis of COVID-19 Complications

  • Olga V. Rasputniak National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8716-6753
  • Tetiana I. Gavrilenko National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1905-8240
  • Olena A. Pidgaina National Scientific Center “The M.D. Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology, Clinical and Regenerative Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2388-3275
  • Liudmyla M. Shnaider National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2512-1208
  • Oleksandr M. Lomakovskyi National Scientific Center “The M.D. Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology, Clinical and Regenerative Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2490-2733
  • Sviatoslav A. Kalashnikov National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5027-8874
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30702/ujcvs/24.32(03)/RG042-7384
Keywords: COVID-19, cytokines, SARS-CoV-2, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor

Abstract

The aim. To explore the current literature and key findings concerning the cytokine storm contribution to pathogenesis of COVID-19 complications and mortality, and summarize clinical and pathologic features of cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients.

A cytokine storm is a hyperinflammatory state secondary to excessive production of cytokines by deregulated immune system. It manifests clinically as an influenza-like syndrome, which can be complicated by multi-organ failure and coagulopathy, leading in most severe cases even to death. Cytokine storm has recently emerged as key aspect in COVID-19 disease, as affected patients show high levels of several key pro-inflammatory cytokines, some of which also correlate with disease severity.

The current review describes the role of critical cytokines in COVID-19-mediated cytokine storm. Key findings of the studies are provided further. A cytokine storm is associated with COVID-19 severity and is also a crucial cause of death from COVID-19. Impaired acquired immune responses and uncontrolled inflammatory innate responses may be associated with the mechanism of cytokine storm in COVID-19. Cytokine storm is defined as acute overproduction and uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory markers, both locally and systemically. In COVID-19 patients, pyroptosis triggers the release of proinflammatory cytokines and affects macrophage and lymphocyte functions, causing peripheral lymphopenia. Cytokine storm is characterized by a clinical presentation of overwhelming systemic inflammation, hyperferritinemia, hemodynamic instability, and multi-organ failure. The cytokine storm clinical findings are attributed to the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor.

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Published
2024-09-27
How to Cite
1.
Rasputniak OV, Gavrilenko TI, Pidgaina OA, Shnaider LM, Lomakovskyi OM, Kalashnikov SA. Cytokine Storm in Pathogenesis of COVID-19 Complications. ujcvs [Internet]. 2024Sep.27 [cited 2024Dec.30];32(3):73-4. Available from: https://cvs.org.ua/index.php/ujcvs/article/view/673
Issue
Ukrainian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery Vol 32 No 3 2024
Section
GENERAL ISSUES OF TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOLOGY

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