Cytokine-Storm

COVID19 pandemic has stormed the world like no other storm/cyclone and some patients with COVID-19 just crash suddenly. These patients often present with a Multiple-Organ-Failure along with hypercytokinaemia, a result of the Cytokine Storm.

A Cytokine Storm is an excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines in response to an infection. Recent studies have shown that in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, a strong correlation is seen between the severity of the disease and levels of proinflammatory cytokines [1].

Interferons, Interleukins, Chemokines, Colony-stimulating factors and Tumor Necrosis factor are the key cytokine types involved in the cytokine storm.

Interleukins

IL1B IL2 IL4 IL6 IL8 IL10 IL12

Interferons

IFN ϒ

Cytokines

IP10 MCP1 CCL3 TNF α

Colony Stimulating Factor

GCSF

References:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32283152
cytokines
COVID19 Cytokines