Fig. 2

Schematic illustration of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of HIF-1α on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. (1) SARS-CoV-2 is attached to the ACE2 receptor on the cell surface of the type II alveolar epithelial cells. After the virus entrance into the cell, its proliferation and progression leads to cell damage and (2) recruitment of the inflammatory cells into the interstitium space. Subsequently (3, 4) HIF-1α induction in the hypoxic and inflammatory condition not only stabilizes inflammatory cells including macrophages, neutrophils and DCs but also (5) induces cytokine production by this cells and cytokine storm. (6) The increasing amount of cytokine and chemokine production result in (7) increasing of the inflammatory cells recruitment into the inflammatory and infection site