The cytokine storm of severe influenza and development of immunomodulatory therapy

• Published in: Cellular & molecular immunology 2016-01, Vol.13 (1), p.3-10
• Main Authors: Liu, Qiang, Zhou, Yuan-hong, Yang, Zhan-qiu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Agonists; Antibodies; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Corticosteroids; Cyclooxygenase 2 - genetics; Cyclooxygenase 2 - immunology; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Cyclooxygenase-2; Cytokine storm; Cytokines; Cytokines - antagonists & inhibitors; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - immunology; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Immune system; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Immunology; Immunomodulation; Indoles - therapeutic use; Inflammation; Influenza; Influenza, Human - drug therapy; Influenza, Human - genetics; Influenza, Human - immunology; Influenza, Human - virology; Intravenous administration; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Mini Review; Orthomyxoviridae - drug effects; Orthomyxoviridae - immunology; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - antagonists & inhibitors; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - genetics; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - immunology; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid - therapeutic use; Sphingosine 1-phosphate; Statins; Tumors; Vaccine; Virulence; 免疫治疗; 免疫调节; 受体激动剂; 流感; 环氧合酶-2; 细胞因子; 过氧化物酶体; 风暴
• ISSN: 1672-7681; 2042-0226
• DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2015.74

Severe influenza remains unusual in its virulence for humans. Complications or ultimately death arising from these infections are often associated with hyperinduction of proinflammatory cytokine production, which is also known as ＇cytokine storm＇. For this disease, it has been proposed that immunomodulatory therapy may improve the outcome, with or without the combination of antiviral agents. Here, we review the current literature on how various effectors of the immune system initiate the cytokine storm and exacerbate pathological damage in hosts. We also review some of the current immunomodulatory strategies for the treatment of cytokine storms in severe influenza, including corticosteroids, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, sphingosine-l-phosphate receptor 1 agonists, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, antioxidants, anti-tumour-necrosis factor therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, statins, arbidol, herbs, and other potential therapeutic strategies.