Contribution of mast cells in SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation

COVID-19, which first appeared in China, has so far caused an unexpected number of deaths, as our immune system has not been able to annihilate the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-2 reacts to both innate and acquired immunity. In the first instance, when the virus enters our organism, it is attacked by innate immune cells, including macrophages and mast cells (MCs), which produce defensive cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-33 and TNF; but the overproduction of these cytokines is very harmful to the patient. Here, in this editorial, we report that the inflammatory cytokine network established in COVID-19, in the most serious cases, can lead to the death of the patient. Therefore, it is pertinent to think that by blocking the pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause the “cytokine storm”, a great therapeutical benefit can be achieved for COVID-19 disease.