Figure 2.

Innate Immune Dysregulation in the Pathophysiology of COVID-19

Genetic and non-genetic risk factors as well as the presence of co-morbidities determine the efficacy of host defense mechanisms. In the early phase of infection, a potent host defense leads to suppression of viral replication, which subsequently leads to low levels of inflammation, less severe symptoms, and a good prognosis. If host defense mechanisms are defective, then they can lead to massive viral replication, systemic hyperinflammation, high severity of disease, and, ultimately, death.