A cytokine storm is one of the leading causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis-associated multiple organ failure in many respiratory viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide, resulting in an urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions. Repurposing immunosuppressive drugs that target cytokines with immunomodulatory properties is a promising approach to counteract SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS at the infective and post-infective stages. In this minireview, we examine drugs targeting IL-1β, IL-4/IL-13, IL-6 and TNF-α tested in COVID-19 patients.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cytokine storm; immunosuppressive drugs.
© 2022 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Pharmacological Society.