Cytokines and Covid-19 versus sepsis: what lessons should be learned?

Abstract

All of humanity is facing an unprecedented health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic (CoronaVirus Disease 2019). The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious health consequences for the world's population, with a very high death rate varying between 1 and 4%. But little scientific data is currently available on the immunopathology of this pandemic. Severe forms are linked to septic shock and "a cytokine storm", this has led some experts to consider Covid-19 as a particular form of sepsis or viral sepsis. Like certain bacterial infections, during COVID-19, there is the release of a wide range of pro-inflammatory (IL-6, TNFα, IL-1) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines responsible for a cascade events leading to organic failures. This has led to a new therapeutic approach based on the use of immunomodulators, including the administration of anti-IL-6 which is prescribed to regulate the cytokine storm.