Infection and Drug Resistance (Jul 2020)

Role of Monocytes/Macrophages in Covid-19 Pathogenesis: Implications for Therapy

  • Gómez-Rial J,
  • Rivero-Calle I,
  • Salas A,
  • Martinón-Torres F

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 13
pp. 2485 – 2493

Abstract

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Jose Gómez-Rial,1,2 Irene Rivero-Calle,1,3 Antonio Salas,1,4 Federico Martinón-Torres1,3 1Genetics, Vaccines, Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Health Research Institute Santiago (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS), Galicia 15706, Spain; 2Immunology Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Clínico Universitario Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS), Galicia 15706, Spain; 3Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago De Compostela, Galicia 15706, Spain; 4Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses (INCIFOR), Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, and GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (SERGAS), Galicia, 15706, SpainCorrespondence: Jose Gómez-Rial Tel +34 981 950 379Email [email protected]: Emerging studies from SARS-CoV-2-infected patients indicate a preponderant role of monocytes/macrophages in the pathogenesis of this viral infection, in a similar way to that previously observed in other coronavirus outbreaks (SARS and MERS). The clinical presentation of severe patients resembles viral-associated hemophagocytic syndrome, a rare condition previously seen during lethal influenza pandemics and during previous SARS and MERS coronavirus outbreaks. SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers an over-exuberant inflammatory response due to the development of a cytokine storm and the depletion of the adaptative immune compartment, which may prelude sepsis in many cases. The present review summarizes past evidence on the role of monocytes/macrophages in previous coronavirus outbreaks and the emerging knowledge on their role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Treatment strategies incorporating the blockade of migration and differentiation of monocyte-macrophage, such as granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor inhibitors, might enhance the promising results seen so far with selective cytokine blockade.Keywords: monocyte/macrophage, COVID-19 infection, anti-GM-CSF, coronavirus

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