An Immunologic Overview of COVID-19

Due to the lack of approved treatment or vaccine against coronavirus, discovering and utilization of natural potentials of the human immunity system is essential in order to combat this virus.

Library studies and international databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar were searched.

The innate immune system, mainly neutrophils and macrophages play a positive role in the initial defense against virus attack, but sustained responses and over expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines could lead to the destruction of involved tissues and their loss of function. Acquired immune systems, including T and B lymphocytes by eradicating infected cells, secreting response-boosting cytokines, and producing neutralizing antibodies try to eradicate the infection;however, in many patients this results in exaggeratedTh1 responses, uncontrollable inflammation and tissue damage. Anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, convalescent serum and supportive therapies are currently used for treating the critical patients but none of them show satisfying effects. Molecular and serological diagnostic techniques are rapidly evolving, and several ideas for designing anti-corona vaccines are under preclinical and clinical trials.

Preciseunderstanding of the quality and quantity of immune responses against corona virus and manipulating them in the right direction may be a good solution for COVID-19 problem. Immunology is involved in prevention (vaccine), treatment (anti-inflammatory drugs and enhanced defense) and diagnosis (molecular and serological methods) of COVID-19.