Which cells are critically contributing to CSS in severe
COVID-19?
CSS encompasses the activation of large numbers of blood cells,
including B cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, dendritic cells,
neutrophils, monocytes, resident tissue cells and epithelial and
endothelial cells. Their activation cause a massive release of
pro-inflammatory cytokines, which drives pathology.68The cells involved in CSS during COVID-19 have not been fully determined
yet. In SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infection, airway epithelial cells,
dendritic cells and macrophages were the most important cell types
releasing a large amount of proinflammatory
cytokines.49,69