Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Life Sci. 2021 May 1;272:119245. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119245. Epub 2021 Feb 17.
In the past 20 years, infections caused by coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have posed a threat to public health since they may cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in humans. The Complement System is activated during viral infection, being a central protagonist of innate and acquired immunity. Here, we report some interactions between these three coronaviruses and the Complement System, highlighting the central role of C3 with the severity of these infections. Although it can be protective, its role during coronavirus infections seems to be contradictory. For example, during SARS-CoV-2 infection, Complement System can control the viral infection in asymptomatic or mild cases; however, it can also intensify local and systemic damage in some of severe COVID-19 patients, due to its potent proinflammatory effect. In this last condition, the activation of the Complement System also amplifies the cytokine storm and the pathogenicity of coronavirus infection. Experimental treatment with Complement inhibitors has been an enthusiastic field of intense investigation in search of a promising additional therapy in severe COVID-19 patients.
在过去的 20 年中，冠状病毒 SARS-CoV、MERS-CoV 和 SARS-CoV-2 的感染对公共卫生造成了威胁，因为它们可能导致人类出现严重急性呼吸综合征（SARS）。补体系统在病毒感染时被激活，是先天和获得性免疫的核心主角。在这里，我们报告了这三种冠状病毒与补体系统之间的一些相互作用，强调了 C3 在这些感染中的核心作用及其严重程度。尽管补体系统可以起到保护作用，但它在冠状病毒感染中的作用似乎具有矛盾性。例如，在 SARS-CoV-2 感染期间，补体系统可以控制无症状或轻症患者的病毒感染；然而，在一些重症 COVID-19 患者中，由于其强烈的促炎作用，它也会加剧局部和全身损伤。在后一种情况下，补体系统的激活还会放大细胞因子风暴和冠状病毒感染的致病性。用补体抑制剂进行实验性治疗一直是一个非常活跃的研究领域，旨在寻找重症 COVID-19 患者有希望的附加治疗方法。
