Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infects alveolar epithelial cells [mainly alveolar epithelial type 2 (AEC2) cells] through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Upon the occupancy of ACE2 by SARS-CoV-2, the increased serum level of free Angiotensin II (Ang II) due to a reduction of ACE2-mediated degradation promotes activation of the NF-kappa B pathway via Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R), followed by interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. SARS-CoV-2 also activates the innate immune system; macrophage stimulation triggers the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, and the "cytokine storm", which results in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure. The combined effects of complement activation, dysregulated neutrophilia, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulability appear to be intertwined to drive the severe features of COVID-19.
Category
Viral infectious disease
Brite
Human diseases in ICD-11 classification [BR:br08403]
25 Codes for special purposes
International provisional assignment of new diseases of uncertain aetiology and emergency use
RA01 COVID-19
H02398 COVID-19
Pathway-based classification of diseases [BR:br08402]
Immune system
nt06513 Complement cascade
H02398 COVID-19
nt06517 TLR signaling
H02398 COVID-19
nt06519 RLR signaling
H02398 COVID-19
Genome-based classification of infectious diseases [BR:br08401]
Viral infections
Infections caused by +ssRNA viruses
H02398 COVID-19
Wu F, Zhao S, Yu B, Chen YM, Wang W, Song ZG, Hu Y, Tao ZW, Tian JH, Pei YY, Yuan ML, Zhang YL, Dai FH, Liu Y, Wang QM, Zheng JJ, Xu L, Holmes EC, Zhang YZ
Title
A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China.
