Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19

Abstract A novel coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, has recently emerged in China and spread internationally, posing a health emergency to the global community. COVID‐19 caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 is associated with an acute respiratory illness that varies from mild to the life‐threatening acute respiratory distres...

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Main Authors: Anastasia Polycarpou, Mark Howard, Conrad A Farrar, Roseanna Greenlaw, Giorgia Fanelli, Russell Wallis, Linda S Klavinskis, Steven Sacks
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2020-07-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202012642
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author Anastasia Polycarpou
Mark Howard
Conrad A Farrar
Roseanna Greenlaw
Giorgia Fanelli
Russell Wallis
Linda S Klavinskis
Steven Sacks
author_facet Anastasia Polycarpou
Mark Howard
Conrad A Farrar
Roseanna Greenlaw
Giorgia Fanelli
Russell Wallis
Linda S Klavinskis
Steven Sacks
author_sort Anastasia Polycarpou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A novel coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, has recently emerged in China and spread internationally, posing a health emergency to the global community. COVID‐19 caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 is associated with an acute respiratory illness that varies from mild to the life‐threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The complement system is part of the innate immune arsenal against pathogens, in which many viruses can evade or employ to mediate cell entry. The immunopathology and acute lung injury orchestrated through the influx of pro‐inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils can be directly activated by complement components to prime an overzealous cytokine storm. The manifestations of severe COVID‐19 such as the ARDS, sepsis and multiorgan failure have an established relationship with activation of the complement cascade. We have collected evidence from all the current studies we are aware of on SARS‐CoV‐2 immunopathogenesis and the preceding literature on SARS‐CoV‐1 and MERS‐CoV infection linking severe COVID‐19 disease directly with dysfunction of the complement pathways. This information lends support for a therapeutic anti‐inflammatory strategy against complement, where a number of clinically ready potential therapeutic agents are available.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1757-4676
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language English
publishDate 2020-07-01
publisher Springer Nature
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series EMBO Molecular Medicine
spelling doaj-art-92ff360d09bb43c098725e7b4e0899cb2025-08-20T04:02:55ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842020-07-0112811510.15252/emmm.202012642Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19Anastasia Polycarpou0Mark Howard1Conrad A Farrar2Roseanna Greenlaw3Giorgia Fanelli4Russell Wallis5Linda S Klavinskis6Steven Sacks7MRC Centre of Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonMRC Centre of Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonMRC Centre of Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonMRC Centre of Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonMRC Centre of Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonDepartment of Respiratory Science and Infection, Leicester Institute of Chemical and Structural Biology, University of LeicesterDepartment of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonMRC Centre of Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College LondonAbstract A novel coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, has recently emerged in China and spread internationally, posing a health emergency to the global community. COVID‐19 caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 is associated with an acute respiratory illness that varies from mild to the life‐threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The complement system is part of the innate immune arsenal against pathogens, in which many viruses can evade or employ to mediate cell entry. The immunopathology and acute lung injury orchestrated through the influx of pro‐inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils can be directly activated by complement components to prime an overzealous cytokine storm. The manifestations of severe COVID‐19 such as the ARDS, sepsis and multiorgan failure have an established relationship with activation of the complement cascade. We have collected evidence from all the current studies we are aware of on SARS‐CoV‐2 immunopathogenesis and the preceding literature on SARS‐CoV‐1 and MERS‐CoV infection linking severe COVID‐19 disease directly with dysfunction of the complement pathways. This information lends support for a therapeutic anti‐inflammatory strategy against complement, where a number of clinically ready potential therapeutic agents are available.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202012642complement proteinsCOVID‐19lectin pathwaySARS‐CoV‐2therapeutics
spellingShingle Anastasia Polycarpou
Mark Howard
Conrad A Farrar
Roseanna Greenlaw
Giorgia Fanelli
Russell Wallis
Linda S Klavinskis
Steven Sacks
Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19
EMBO Molecular Medicine
complement proteins
COVID‐19
lectin pathway
SARS‐CoV‐2
therapeutics
title Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19
title_full Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19
title_fullStr Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19
title_full_unstemmed Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19
title_short Rationale for targeting complement in COVID‐19
title_sort rationale for targeting complement in covid 19
topic complement proteins
COVID‐19
lectin pathway
SARS‐CoV‐2
therapeutics
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202012642
work_keys_str_mv AT anastasiapolycarpou rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT markhoward rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT conradafarrar rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT roseannagreenlaw rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT giorgiafanelli rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT russellwallis rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT lindasklavinskis rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19
AT stevensacks rationalefortargetingcomplementincovid19