The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 enters into the human body mainly through the ACE2 + TMPRSS2+ nasal epithelial cells. The initial host response to this pathogen occurs in a peculiar immune microenvironment that, starting from the Nasopharynx-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (NALT) system, is the product of a long evolutionary process that is aimed to first recognize exogenous airborne agents. In the present work, we want to critically review the latest molecular and cellular findings on the mucosal response to SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal cavity and in NALT, and to analyze its impact in the subsequent course of COVID-19. Finally, we want to explore the possibility that the regulation of the systemic inflammatory network against the virus can be modulated starting from the initial phases of the nasal and nasopharyngeal response and this may have several clinical and epidemiological implications starting from a mucosal vaccine development.

新型冠状病毒SARS-CoV-2主要通过ACE2+TMPRSS2+鼻腔上皮细胞进入人体。宿主对这种病原体的最初反应发生在一个特殊的免疫微环境中，该微环境从鼻咽相关淋巴组织 (NALT) 系统开始，是一个长期进化过程的产物，旨在首先识别外源性空气传播因子。在目前的工作中，我们想批判性地回顾关于鼻腔和 NALT 中对 SARS-CoV-2 的粘膜反应的最新分子和细胞发现，并分析其对 COVID-19 后续过程的影响。最后，