LA RESPUESTA INMUNITARIA FRENTE AL VIRUS SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is similar to that against other viruses, where the innate immune system acts at early stages through the secretion of type 1 interferon (type 1 IFN), which prevents viral replication and the activation of natural killer (NK) cells. Later, the adaptive immune system acts through CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and antibody production, which aim to destroy infected cells and block viral entry into cells. All the above leads to the elimination of the virus and mild symptomatology. However, in individuals with a weakened immune system, the viral infection spreads and leads to a potent inflammatory response, which leads to the recruitment of immune cells to the lungs, where they can cause severe pulmonary and even systemic pathology.