Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Combat COVID-19

COVID-19 disease is still affecting millions of people due to its high infectivity rate and attack rate. The host body's immune response to 2019-nCoV is one of the major factors to cause disease more severe, leading to cytokine storm syndrome (CSS). In fatal cases of COVID-19, pathological testing has confirmed the presence of immune hyper-activation, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and collateral tissue damage. Furthermore, rational control of 2019-nCoV immune responses, including boosting antiviral immunity while reducing systemic inflammation, may be crucial for effective and successful treatment. Hence, immune therapy is one of the best choices to combat immunopathogenesis-derived COVID-19 disease. We present possible immunotherapies based upon the immune response to 2019-nCoV and dysfunction of the immune response of CSS. Correct immunomodulation may be useful for severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients. Moreover, immunomodulators usage, either immunosuppressants or immune enhancers, will depend on the progressive course point of COVID-19 disease and the immune status of that patient. In this entry, we reviewed the various immunotherapeutic strategies, including current investigational candidates of natural immune modulators, convalescent plasma therapy, monoclonal antibodies therapy, IFN therapy, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy. The main aim of this review article is to address the current findings and experience in immunotherapy against COVID-19. 

Keywords: 1, 3beta-glucan, Chitosan, Convalescent Plasma (CP) therapy, COVID-19, CR3022, IFN therapy, Immunomodulators, IVIg therapy, Monoclonal antibodies therapy.