Complement Factors in COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccines

Liriye Kurtovic; James G Beeson

doi:10.1016/j.it.2020.12.002

Complement Factors in COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccines

Trends Immunol. 2021 Feb;42(2):94-103. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2020.12.002. Epub 2020 Dec 13.

Authors

Liriye Kurtovic¹, James G Beeson²

Affiliations

¹ Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
² Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Central Clinical School and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: beeson@burnet.edu.au.

Abstract

Complement is integral to a healthy functioning immune system and orchestrates various innate and adaptive responses against viruses and other pathogens. Despite its importance, the potential beneficial role of complement in immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been overshadowed by reports of extensive complement activation in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Here, we hypothesize that complement may also have a protective role and could function to enhance virus neutralization by antibodies, promote virus phagocytosis by immune cells, and lysis of virus. These functions might be exploited in the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adaptive Immunity
Animals
Antibodies, Viral / metabolism
COVID-19 / immunology*
COVID-19 Vaccines / immunology*
Complement Activation
Complement System Proteins / metabolism
Humans
Immunity, Innate
SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
COVID-19 Vaccines
Complement System Proteins