A cytokine storm is a severe, dysregulated immune reaction in which the body releases an excessive and self-amplifying surge of cytokines and other inflammatory signaling molecules. This hyperinflammatory state can drive widespread tissue and organ injury, and it is most dangerous in the lungs, where it can precipit…
A cytokine storm is a severe, dysregulated immune reaction in which the body releases an excessive and self-amplifying surge of cytokines and other inflammatory signaling molecules. This hyperinflammatory state can drive widespread tissue and organ injury, and it is most dangerous in the lungs, where it can precipitate acute respiratory distress and respiratory failure. Cytokine storms have been observed in a range of conditions but became a major focus of attention in severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), where overactive inflammation rather than the virus alone often determines the most critical outcomes. Research published in the International Journal of Coronaviruses examines the cytokine and immune dynamics that underlie this process. Work profiling cytokines in COVID-19 patients describes a measurable "pre-storm" phase that may precede full-blown hyperinflammation, while a study of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reports effects on interferon signaling and the balance of cytokine gene expression. Further reports investigate serum ferritin as a prognostic marker of mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia, the use of interferon-gamma as an immune modulator, and a case of macrophage activation in the liver following vaccination. Together these peer-reviewed, open-access articles gather evidence relevant to understanding, predicting, and managing cytokine storm in viral infection.
9 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 9 articles above have been cited 13 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Cytokine Storm, linking to each citing work.