Molecular Insights into the Crosstalk Between Immune Inflammation Nexus and SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Inflammation as the nexus: exploring the link between acute myocardial infarction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly following acute exacerbations (AE-COPD), significantly heightens the risks and mortality associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The intersection of COPD and AMI is characterised by a considerable overlap in inflammatory mechanisms, which play a crucial role in the development of both conditions. Although extensive research has been conducted on individual inflammatory pathways in AMI and COPD, the understanding of thrombo-inflammatory crosstalk in comorbid settings remains limited. The effectiveness of various inflammatory components in reducing AMI infarct size or slowing COPD progression has shown promise, yet their efficacy in the context of comorbidity with COPD and AMI is not established. This review focuses on the critical importance of both local and systemic inflammation, highlighting it as a key pathophysiological connection between AMI and COPD/AE-COPD.

GM-CSF targeting in COVID-19: an approach based on fragile foundations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) arises as a result of a pathological inflammatory response following infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Although the majority of people infected with this virus will experience minimal or mild symptoms, a proportion will go on to develop more severe disease requiring hospitalisation and oxygen therapy. The most severe forms produce acute respiratory failure, necessitating mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The advent of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has substantially altered the risk profile of COVID-19, with marked reductions in the severity of illness and hospitalisation. However, for unvaccinated patients and those who do not mount an effective immune response to vaccination, it remains a potentially lethal infection.

Trials of anti-GM-CSF therapies in COVID-19 show divergent results; this may be explained by underlying biology and the fragility of the study findings. Further investigation of the pathophysiology of COVID-19 is required to better target therapies.http://bit.ly/3O1AuIo

Innate Immune Response in SARS-CoV-2 Infection

An efficient host immune response is crucial in controlling viral infections. Despite most studies focused on the implication of T and B cell response in COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-19) patients or in their activation after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, host innate immune response has raised even more interest as well. In fact, innate immunity, including Natural Killer (NK) cells, monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils, represent the first line of defense against the virus and it is essential to determine the correct activation of an efficient and specific acquired immune response. In this perspective, we will report an overview on the main findings concerning SARS-CoV-2 interaction with innate host immune system, in correlation with pathogenesis and viral immune escape mechanisms.