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Tackling COVID-19 infection through complement-targeted immunotherapy
  • Sonata Jodele,
  • Joerg (GUEST EDITOR) Koehl
Sonata Jodele
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Joerg (GUEST EDITOR) Koehl
Universität zu Lübeck Sektion Medizin
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Abstract

The complement system is an ancient part of innate immunity sensing highly pathogenic coronaviruses by Mannan-binding lectin resulting in lectin pathway-activation and subsequent generation of the anaphylatoxins (AT) C3a and C5a as important effector molecules. Complement deposition in endothelial cells and high blood C5a serum levels have been reported in COVID-19 patients with severe illness, suggesting vigorous complement activation leading to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Strikingly, SARS-CoV-2-infected African Americans suffer from high mortality. Complement regulator gene variants prevalent in African Americans have been associated with a higher risk for severe TMA and multi-organ injury. These findings allow us to apply our knowledge from other complement-mediated diseases to COVID-19 infection to better understand severe disease pathogenesis. Here we will discuss the multiple aspects of complement activation, regulation, crosstalk with other parts of the immune system and the options to target complement in COVID-19 patients to halt disease progression and death.
04 May 2020Submitted to British Journal of Pharmacology
05 May 2020Submission Checks Completed
05 May 2020Assigned to Editor
09 May 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 May 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
06 Jun 20201st Revision Received
10 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
10 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
10 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
23 Jun 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jun 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
Jul 2021Published in British Journal of Pharmacology volume 178 issue 14 on pages 2832-2848. 10.1111/bph.15187