COVID-19 Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 16 pp 15954—15961

Figure 1. In the presence of the SAR-COV2 virus, early response proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, IL-1β etc.) are induced and activate the coagulation cascade by stimulating tissue factor (TF) expression from monocytes. The presentation of tissue factor leads to the formation of thrombin by the TF-VIIa pathway. Thrombin produces clots, and clots get wedged into arteries in the lungs and cause thrombotic complications and hypoxia. Hypoxia also induces IL-6. Simultaneously, thrombin augments inflammation and accelerates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, termed ‘cytokine storm’. Both cytokine storm and hypoxia downregulate Protein S, leading to coagulopathy. Green arrows represent upregulation and red blockage represent downregulation.