The beneficial and pathogenic roles of complement in COVID-19

Alfred H J Kim; Xiaobo Wu; John P Atkinson

doi:10.3949/ccjm.87a.ccc065

The beneficial and pathogenic roles of complement in COVID-19

Cleve Clin J Med. 2020 Oct 28:10.3949/ccjm.87a.ccc065. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.ccc065. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Alfred H J Kim¹, Xiaobo Wu¹, John P Atkinson²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
² Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO j.p.atkinson@wustl.edu.

Abstract

We briefly summarize the complement system and its functions in immunity and disease. We present data supporting the requirement of complement to resolve COVID-19, and discuss how complement overactivation later in severe disease could drive multiorgan damage characteristic of fatal COVID-19.

Grants and funding

R35 GM136352/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States