Where some mistake coronavirus infection for a cold, others bring serious complications. Cytokines play an important role.
- Cytokines are proteins that control the body's defense against pathogens.
- By cytokine storm is meant the uncontrolled release of cytokines - an overreaction of the body's defenses.
- A cytokine storm causes severe inflammatory reactions in the lungs or other organs.
It has now been confirmed that infection with coronaviruses can trigger a so-called cytokine storm. This overreaction of the immune system favors life-threatening complications such as thrombosis *, acute lung failure, pneumonia, shortness of breath and inflammation of the airways. The reason for this is a significant increase in cytokines such as interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-1β and TNF-α. Doctors observed hypercytokinemia, especially in seriously ill patients, as a cytokine storm is called in technical terms. But there is a drug that promises promising effects against the dangerous phenomenon.
Tocilizumab docks to cells to stop inflammation
It is the monoclonal antibody tocilizumab, an active ingredient that can prevent a cytokine storm. Tocilizumab blocks the cell receptors that cytokines need in the body to trigger inflammation . In view of the fact that the immune cells of Covid-19 patients release too much interleukin-6 and this leads to severe inflammatory reactions, medical doctors are currently placing high hopes in preparations with tocilizumab.
Chinese doctors treated tocilizumab with Covid-19 patients in early February. In a study, they now published the consequences of the therapy. In all patients, the fever had dropped to normal body temperature after just one day. Other symptoms * would also have remarkably subsided within a few days, the publication says. The Pharmaceutical newspaper reported that after the fifth day of treatment with tocilizumab, the oxygen supply could be reduced in 15 out of 20 patients. One patient no longer needed oxygen. The number of lymphocytes (an increased lymphocyte value in the blood indicates inflammation or infection) had normalized after five days of therapy . On average, the treated people were discharged from the hospital after 15 days. However, according to the scientists, the research results would still have to be checked in studies with more patients in order to confirm the effectiveness.
To the study
Read also : This happens with a coronavirus infection in the body .
Inflammaging cytokine storm?
Other drugs are currently being tested for their benefits against severe immune overreaction. These include the enzyme inhibitor ruxolitinib .
Inflammaging, among other things, is discussed as the cause of a cytokine storm. The term describes a collection of age-related inflammatory processes in the body *, the body's own defense is constantly challenged. According to inflammatory theory, a new pathogen could cause the immune system to initiate a dangerous overreaction and also a cytokine storm .
More sources: www.aerzteblatt.de; www.thelancet.com; www.the-scientist.com
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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network .