Abstract

Since its emergence at the end of 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide at a very rapid pace. While most infected individuals have an asymptomatic or mild disease, a minority, mainly the elderly, develop a severe disease that may lead to a fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS results from a highly inflammatory immunopathology process that includes systemic manifestations and massive alveolar damages that impair gas exchange. The present review summarizes our current knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology, emphasizing the role of specific T cell responses. Indeed, accumulating evidence suggest that while T-cell response directed against SARS-CoV-2 likely plays a crucial role in virus clearance, it may also participate in the immunopathology process that leads to ARDS.

Highlights

  • Coronaviruses are a family of single-strand positive RNA enveloped viruses that infect a wide range of hosts

  • The highly inflammatory process leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) results from inappropriate regulation of the network of innate and adaptive components of the immune response triggered by SARS-CoV-2 replication in the pulmonary alveolus

  • The anti-SARS-CoV-2 primary T cell response, which includes the complex and multifaceted CD4 T cell response and the CD8 T cell component, likely plays an essential role in virus clearance. It may participate in the immunopathology process leading to ARDS

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Coronaviruses are a family of single-strand positive RNA enveloped viruses that infect a wide range of hosts. Seven viruses are known to infect humans They include four common human coronaviruses: 229E and NL63 (alpha coronavirus) and OC43 and HKU1 (beta coronavirus). The highly contagious SARS-CoV-2, which outbreak started in the province of Wuhan in China at the end of 2019, and which spread worldwide at a very rapid pace Those three highly pathogenic coronaviruses predominantly infect the lower respiratory tract, mainly alveolar epithelial cells. In SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, ARDS occurs approximately between day 9 and day 12 following the onset of symptoms [11] It is associated with biological hallmarks of intense inflammation (e.g., increase of serum ferritin and CRP), coagulation activation (e.g., increase of d-dimers), and heart damage (e.g., increase of Troponin). The incidence of thrombotic complications appears high in intensive care unit patients with SARS-CoV-2, with pulmonary embolism being the most frequent, ranging from 20.6 to 31% [12, 13]

Interactions Between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and ACE2
Interferon Response and Cytokine Release During Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Complement Activation During Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Antibody Responses During Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
T Cell Responses During Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Findings
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

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