Fibrosis of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems after suffering COVID-19: the contribution of immune system factors and genetic predisposition

Abstract

In February 2020, apandemic of a SARS-CoV-2 infection was declared. The number of people who have been exposed to the novel coronavirus infection is steadily increasing around the world. Comparison of data on pathogenesis, clinical course, complications and outcomes with other respiratory viral infections, primarily caused by Betacoronavirus, gives reason to expect an increase in the number of patients after COVID-19 with long-term cardiovascular, respiratory and other complications. In the pathogenesis of possible complications, the leading role will be played by impaired immune function, primarily the adaptive immunity. This review examines the involvement of T-helpers and the humoral factors they produce in the pathogenesis of complications of viral (coronavirus) infections with cardiovascular and respiratory injury, as well as the known data on the genetic determination of cytokine-producing activity of these cells.

Keywords

• covid-19
• fibrosis
• t-helpers subsets
• humoral factors