Scientists at the Earlham Institute and Quadram Institute have found that SARS-CoV-2 has a unique tendency of halting the rise of specific cytokines in certain patients, when compared to other similar viruses. The study was published in Frontiers in Immunology.
The team systematically analyzed over 5,000 scientific studies to find those containing immune response data from patients, "We examined the changing cytokine levels upon infection with similar viral pathogens (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, H5N1, H7N9) to highlight the protective and unique cytokine responses caused by these viruses," said lead researcher Marton Olbei.
By comparing the COVID-19 patients' immune response data, the researchers found similarities mounted against these pathogens—discriminating between influenza A subtypes and coronaviruses—and the unusual aspects of the current circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus. "For a subgroup of patients, when infected by these viruses, a real danger is posed by the immune system overreacting. We're drawing out which specific parts of our immune system react in a potentially harmful way to these viruses," said Marton.
A map of such immune responses could help clinical specialists identify interventions that have successfully alleviated cytokine storm in other diseases, and evaluate whether they could be effective in treating certain COVID-19 cases.