Myeloid cells are the most prominent immune cells present in the circulation and lungs at baseline. Myeloid cells increase rapidly in the lungs during acute infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and may remain persistently elevated for prolonged periods in patients with severe COVID-19. The persistence of aberrantly activated neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages in tissue are believed to be pathological events, however, limited experimental evidence exists. Further, neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages are plastic cells which crosstalk and promote resolution of inflammation and tissue repair as a key pathway of recovery from the disease. How and through which cues myeloid cells assume specific phenotypes and contribute to the pathophysiology or recovery from COVID-19 is a topic of great interest and relevant to the health of COVID-19 patients.
The goal of this research topic is to describe the kinetics of monocyte/macrophage/neutrophil recruitment and or activation during COVID-19, how these cells contribute to the sensing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and how they orchestrate the immune response to limit the replication or eradicate the virus in a timely manner. Further, we aim to understand how SARS-CoV-2 may hijack immune defenses, impair antimicrobial response and viral clearance and contribute to the pathogenicity of the infection. We also aim to understand specific monocyte/macrophage/neutrophil phenotypes that contribute to tissue injury or the resolution of tissue injury in the lung when the active replicating virus is cleared. This may include studies about susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections, illustrating how a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection alters the function of myeloid cells essential in fighting secondary bacterial infections.
In this Research Topic, we invite researchers to submit original research, review articles, systemic review and meta-analysis, mini-review, and opinion articles that cover various aspects of myeloid cell biology during COVID-19 and related to host protection and pathological events. We specifically encourage studies that cover, but are not limited to, to the following topics:
• Myeloid cell interactions with coronaviruses, including mechanisms of virus sensing and control by myeloid cells in in vitro and in vivo models.
• Characterization of the kinetics and phenotype of innate immune cells during the course of infection, including acute and chronic phases.
• Specificity of myeloid cell response to coronavirus infection compared to other respiratory infections such as influenza and RSV.
• Manipulation of the innate immune system by SARS-CoV-2, and how it affects key functions of myeloid cells during secondary bacterial infections.
• Novel diagnostic/therapeutic approaches related to myeloid cells in COVID-19.
Myeloid cells are the most prominent immune cells present in the circulation and lungs at baseline. Myeloid cells increase rapidly in the lungs during acute infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and may remain persistently elevated for prolonged periods in patients with severe COVID-19. The persistence of aberrantly activated neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages in tissue are believed to be pathological events, however, limited experimental evidence exists. Further, neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages are plastic cells which crosstalk and promote resolution of inflammation and tissue repair as a key pathway of recovery from the disease. How and through which cues myeloid cells assume specific phenotypes and contribute to the pathophysiology or recovery from COVID-19 is a topic of great interest and relevant to the health of COVID-19 patients.
The goal of this research topic is to describe the kinetics of monocyte/macrophage/neutrophil recruitment and or activation during COVID-19, how these cells contribute to the sensing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and how they orchestrate the immune response to limit the replication or eradicate the virus in a timely manner. Further, we aim to understand how SARS-CoV-2 may hijack immune defenses, impair antimicrobial response and viral clearance and contribute to the pathogenicity of the infection. We also aim to understand specific monocyte/macrophage/neutrophil phenotypes that contribute to tissue injury or the resolution of tissue injury in the lung when the active replicating virus is cleared. This may include studies about susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections, illustrating how a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection alters the function of myeloid cells essential in fighting secondary bacterial infections.
In this Research Topic, we invite researchers to submit original research, review articles, systemic review and meta-analysis, mini-review, and opinion articles that cover various aspects of myeloid cell biology during COVID-19 and related to host protection and pathological events. We specifically encourage studies that cover, but are not limited to, to the following topics:
• Myeloid cell interactions with coronaviruses, including mechanisms of virus sensing and control by myeloid cells in in vitro and in vivo models.
• Characterization of the kinetics and phenotype of innate immune cells during the course of infection, including acute and chronic phases.
• Specificity of myeloid cell response to coronavirus infection compared to other respiratory infections such as influenza and RSV.
• Manipulation of the innate immune system by SARS-CoV-2, and how it affects key functions of myeloid cells during secondary bacterial infections.
• Novel diagnostic/therapeutic approaches related to myeloid cells in COVID-19.
