• The role of IL‑1 family of cytokines and receptors in pathogenesis of COVID‑19
  • Ali Asgarzadeh,1 Shima Makaremi,2 Elham Safarzadeh,3,*
    1. Students Research Committee, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
    2. School of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
    3. Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Immunology, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran


  • Introduction: A global pandemic has erupted as a result of the new brand coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pandemic has been associated with widespread mortality worldwide. The antiviral immune response is an imperative factor in confronting the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. In the meantime, cytokines are recognized as crucial components in guiding the appropriate immune pathways in restraining and eradicating the virus. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 can induce uncontrolled inflammatory responses characterized by hyper-inflammatory cytokine production, which causes cytokine storm and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  • Methods: As excessive inflammatory responses contribute to the severe stage of the COVID-19 disease, the pro-inflammatory cytokines are regarded as the Achilles heel during COVID-19 infection.
  • Results: Among these cytokines, interleukin (IL-) 1 family cytokines (IL-1, IL-18, IL-33, IL-36, IL-37, and IL-38) appear to have a solid inflammatory role in severe COVID-19.
  • Conclusion: Hence, understanding the underlying inflammatory mechanism of these cytokines during infection is critical for reducing the symptoms and severity of the disease. Here, the possible mechanisms and pathways involved in inflammatory immune responses are discussed.
  • Keywords: Infammation