Characteristics and Mechanism of Liver Injury in 2019 Coronavirus Disease

Li, Jie; Fan, Jian-Gao

Systemic inflammatory responses and pulmonary injury associated with coronaviruses are triggered by the innate and adaptive immune system. Expression of SARS-CoV S protein in animals is associated with strong inflammatory reaction and enhanced hepatitis. During SARS-CoV infection, host factors trigger an immune response, which can inhibit virus replication, promote virus clearance, and trigger a prolonged adaptive immune response against the viruses. In SARS-CoV-infected patients, CD4 + T cells activate B cells then promote the production of virusspecific antibodies. A large amount of CD8 + T cells can be found in the pulmonary interstitium, which play a vital role in clearing the coronaviruses in infected cells and inducing immune injury. 25 However, it is important to note that an immune response out of control can induce immunopathogenesis, which may result in lung tissue damage and functional impairment in COVID-19 patients. However, reports about the underlying immune mechanism of liver injury in COVID-19 are still limited.