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. 2021 Apr 28;12:589095. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.589095

Table 2.

Therapeutic methods linked to the prevention and inhibition of the cytokine storm in COVID-19.

Therapeutic Therapeutic drug Effect
Glucocorticoids
Dexamethasone IL-6↓
Prednisolone TNF, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-10, TGF-β
Immunomodulators
Thalidomide TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8↓
Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine TNF, IL-6↓
Ulinastatin IL-10↑, TNF, IL-6, IFN-γ
Statins MYD88/NF-κB proinflammatory pathway↓
ACE2↑
Cytokine/cytokine receptor antagonists
IL-1 receptor antagonists Anakinra IL-1↓
IL-1β antagonists Canakinumab IL-1β↓
IL-6 receptor antagonists Tocilizumab
Sarilumab
IL6↓
IL6↓
IL-6 antagonists Siltuximab
Clazakizumab
IL6↓
IL6↓
GM-CSF antagonists Lenzilumab granulocytes and mononuclear macrophages ↓
GM-CSF receptor antagonists Axatilimab granulocytes and mononuclear macrophages ↓
IFN-γ antagonists Emapalumab IFN-γ
TNF antagonists Infliximab
Adalimumab
Golimumab
TNF↓
TNF↓
TNF↓
Vaccine
Inactivated vaccine Prevents cytokine storms
Adenovirus vector vaccine Prevents cytokine storms
mRNA vaccine Prevents cytokine storms
DNA vaccine Prevents cytokine storms
Recombinant protein vaccine Prevents cytokine storms
Attenuated influenza virus vector vaccine Prevents cytokine storms
Others
Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonists Siponimod Cytokines↓
TNF blockers
TLR4 antagonist Eritoran Cytokines↓
Stem cell therapy Cytokines↓
Blood purification Cytokines↓
Exogenous surfactants Cytokines↓
Nafamostat mesylate Prevents cytokine storms
Convalescent plasma therapy Cytokines↓
CytoSorb Cytokines, DAMPs, PAMPs↓
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) Immune regulation
Traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua–Qingwen formula Immune regulation

IL-1, interleukin 1; IL-1β, interleukin 1 beta; IL-6, interleukin 6; IL-8, interleukin 8; IL-10, interleukin 10; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IFN-γ, interferon gamma; GM-CSF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating; M-CSF, macrophage colony-stimulating factor; DAMPs, damage-associated molecular patterns; PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns.