The Role of Cytokine Storm in Influenza Pathogenesis

Cytokines are proteins that act as chemical messengers, sending signals between many types of cells and tissues. These molecules play an essential role in almost every immunological process, such as white blood cell trafficking, activation, regulation, survival, viral clearance and cell death. During some infections and pathological conditions, regulation fails, and an unbalanced cytokine response called a cytokine “storm” can develops, leading to uncontrolled inflammation and increased morbidity and/or mortality for the host.

Download PDF.

Key Points

• An aberrant host immune response (immunopathology) is the main cause of pandemic influenza–related deaths.
• As part of the normal host immune response to bacterial and viral infections, cells of the immune system release chemical messengers (cytokines), which control and coordinate host immune responses to invading pathogens.
• An unbalanced cytokine response (cytokine storm) can lead to damage of the vascular barrier resulting in tissue edema, capillary leakage, multiple organ failure and death.
• There is no singular mechanism when it comes to inducing cytokine storm with respect to pandemic influenza strains.
• Inhibition of individual cytokines involved in cytokine storm leads to decreased pathology of influenza infection but also impairs viral clearance.
• Treatment options should focus on the overall cytokine imbalance and associated immunopathology rather than using a more targeted approach.

• NCCID Projects

  Explore Our Body of Work

• Publications

  View our Online Publicaation Archive

• Facts & Figures

  Stats, Guidelines & Research in our Project Areas

• Infectious Disease News

  The Latest National and International News