scholarly journals Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway in COVID-19-Dependent Musculoskeletal Pathology: A Minireview

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sagar Vyavahare ◽  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
Nicholas Cantu ◽  
Ravindra Kolhe ◽  
Wendy B. Bollag ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affecting multiple organ systems, including the respiratory tract and lungs. Several studies have reported that the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway is altered in COVID-19 patients. The tryptophan-kynurenine pathway plays a vital role in regulating inflammation, metabolism, immune responses, and musculoskeletal system biology. In this minireview, we surmise the effects of the kynurenine pathway in COVID-19 patients and how this pathway might impact muscle and bone biology.

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 1350-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Sparks ◽  
Andrew M. South ◽  
Andrew D. Badley ◽  
Carissa M. Baker-Smith ◽  
Daniel Batlle ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world, predominantly due to lung and cardiovascular injury. The virus responsible for COVID-19—severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2—gains entry into host cells via ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). ACE2 is a primary enzyme within the key counter-regulatory pathway of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which acts to oppose the actions of Ang (angiotensin) II by generating Ang-(1–7) to reduce inflammation and fibrosis and mitigate end organ damage. As COVID-19 spans multiple organ systems linked to the cardiovascular system, it is imperative to understand clearly how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may affect the multifaceted RAS. In addition, recognition of the role of ACE2 and the RAS in COVID-19 has renewed interest in its role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in general. We provide researchers with a framework of best practices in basic and clinical research to interrogate the RAS using appropriate methodology, especially those who are relatively new to the field. This is crucial, as there are many limitations inherent in investigating the RAS in experimental models and in humans. We discuss sound methodological approaches to quantifying enzyme content and activity (ACE, ACE2), peptides (Ang II, Ang-[1–7]), and receptors (types 1 and 2 Ang II receptors, Mas receptor). Our goal is to ensure appropriate research methodology for investigations of the RAS in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and COVID-19 to ensure optimal rigor and reproducibility and appropriate interpretation of results from these investigations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (40) ◽  
pp. 24620-24626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Baruch Steinman ◽  
Fok Moon Lum ◽  
Peggy Pui-Kay Ho ◽  
Naftali Kaminski ◽  
Lawrence Steinman

The reduced development of COVID-19 for children compared to adults provides some tantalizing clues on the pathogenesis and transmissibility of this pandemic virus. First, ACE2, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor, is reduced in the respiratory tract in children. Second, coronavirus associated with common colds in children may offer some protection, due to cross-reactive humoral immunity and T cell immunity between common coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2. Third, T helper 2 immune responses are protective in children. Fourth, surprisingly, eosinophilia, associated with T helper 2, may be protective. Fifth, children generally produce lower levels of inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the influence of the downturn in the global economy, the impact of living in quarters among families who are the most at risk, and factors including the openings of some schools, are considered. Those most disadvantaged socioeconomically may suffer disproportionately with COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Chaithanya Ratheesh ◽  
Aishwarya Nair

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, affecting multiple organ systems. The disease usually presents as mild to moderate respiratory illness but in many cases has progressed to development of pneumonia and ARDS ultimately requiring ventilatory support and prolonged ICU stay. Prolonged immobilization itself is a harbinger of various complications drastically altering a patient’s functional status. Physiotherapy plays a vital role in the management of COVID-19 symptoms as well as in the prevention of complications.  Case Study: This case report describes the progress of a 44-year old female patient diagnosed with COVID-19 presenting with subsequent pneumonia and ARDS. The patient was started with medical management and supplemental oxygen therapy. In combination to the above-mentioned protocols, physiotherapy treatment was also initiated. After 2 weeks of rehabilitation and drug therapy, the patient displayed improved respiratory function at room air and was able to independently ambulate with minimal breathing difficulty. Discussion: This case report aims to highlight the importance of early intervention of physiotherapy in COVID-19 patients. The scope of physiotherapy treatment in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia is vast. The treatment protocol adapted for this patient are in tune with the various research articles analysed to ensure evidence-based care. This will enable the healthcare professionals to ensure timely referral and early initiation of Physiotherapy treatment. Conclusion: As per the findings and results of this case report, it is evident that the patient benefited from the timely advent of physiotherapy intervention. The key factor was the correct identification of the problematic areas and accurate prioritization based on the clinical presentation and investigation findings


Author(s):  
Balraj Singh ◽  
Sarah Ayad ◽  
Parminder Kaur ◽  
Ro-Jay Reid ◽  
Sachin Gupta ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus responsible for the current global pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 usually presents with respiratory symptoms but can affect multiple organ systems. A wide spectrum of complications can occur depending upon the comorbidities of patients. There is limited literature available regarding the presentation and outcome of COVID-19 in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients. We report 2 cases of COVID-19-induced hyperleucocytosis (WBC count >100,000/?l) in CLL patients.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zigang Qu ◽  
Wenhui Li ◽  
Baoquan Fu

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are featured by body's immune responses being directed towards its own specific target organs or multiple organ systems, causing persistent inflammation and consequent tissue damage. miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs in a size of approximately 22 nt that play important regulatory roles in many organisms by cleavage or translational inhibition of targeted mRNAs. Many miRNAs are reported to be differentially expressed in ADs and may play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses and autoimmunity. In this review, current research progress in the miRNAs in ADs was elucidated.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Andrew B. Janowski

Astroviruses are single stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that have been historically associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates, including humans. However, there is now a multitude of evidence demonstrating the capacity of these viruses to cause extraintestinal diseases. The most striking causal relationship is neurological diseases in humans, cattle, pigs, and other mammals, caused by astrovirus infection. Astroviruses have also been associated with disseminated infections, localized disease of the liver or kidneys, and there is increasing evidence suggesting a potential tropism to the respiratory tract. This review will discuss the current understanding of the tissue tropisms for astroviruses and their emerging capacity to cause disease in multiple organ systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjian Dong ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Lili Shi ◽  
Bing Shen ◽  
Xianliang Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Canine distemper virus (CDV) infection of ferrets, dogs, and giant pandas causes an acute systemic disease involving multiple organ systems, including the respiratory tract, lymphoid system, and central nervous system. In this study, we tested a new candidate CDV vaccine-CDV nanoparticles-based on hemagglutinin protein. Methods The nanoparticles were generated from conformation-stabilized CDV hemagglutinin tetramers. Immune responses against CDV were evaluated in mice. Immunization was initiated 6 weeks after birth and boosted two times with 4-week intervals. The blood and mucosal samples were collected 2 weeks after each immunization. Results Vaccination with CDV nanoparticles elicited high levels of IgG antibody titers in mice (approximately sevenfold to eightfold higher than that obtained with soluble CDV H protein) and mucosal immune responses and developed increased CDV-specific neutralizing antibody. The mice that received nanoparticles showed significantly higher IFN-γ- and IL-4-secreting cell population in the spleen and lymph node compared with mice immunized with soluble H protein. The co-stimulatory molecular expression of CD80 and CD86 on the surface of DCs was also upregulated. Conclusion The results demonstrate that self-assembly into nanoparticles can increase the immunogenicity of vaccine antigens, and nanoparticles assembled from conformation-stabilized CDV H protein can serve as a new CDV vaccine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-234
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Chrysanthakopoulos ◽  

A severe pandemic of CoronaVirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to World Health Organization (WHO), appeared in China in December 2019, and spread rapidly. The majority of the patients had mild symptoms and good prognosis after recovery; however some patients developed severe inflammatory reaction and passed away from multiple organ complications. The novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a beta-coronavirus and is similar with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). SARS-CoV-2 and -1 have the same host receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans remains unclear. The immune response is essential to control and reduce SARS-CoV-1 and -2 infections, however, irregular and exaggerated immune responses may lead to the immunopathology of the disease and the lung lesions. This article presents the immunological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its potential pathogenesis based on the recent observations of the International literature.


Author(s):  
Sameer A. Jadaan ◽  
Abdul Waheed Khan

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been recently identified as a novel member of beta coronaviruses (CoVs) and the cause of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). It has been first discovered in China and soon has spread across continents with an escalating number of mortalities. There is an urgent need for developing a COVID-19 vaccine to control the rapid transmission and the deleterious impact of the virus. The potent vaccine should have a good tolerable and efficacious profile to induce target-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. It should also exhibit no or minimal detrimental effects in children, young adults, and elderly people with or without co-morbidities from different racial backgrounds. Previously published findings of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome associated Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) played vital role in the characterization of surface spike proteins as the tool of entry of the SARS-CoV-2 into host cells. It has become evident that SARS-CoVs have high genetic similarity and this implies antecedent vaccination strategies could be implicated in the production of COVID-19 vaccines. Although several vaccines have been approved and rolled out, only a handful of them have passed the three phases of clinical studies. This review highlights the completed, and ongoing clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines and efforts are being made globally to avert the pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 632-637
Author(s):  
Pooja Bhadoria ◽  
Harsha Rathore

With a continuous increase in Covid-19 cases, patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 have shown a wide variety of symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, cough, myalgia, dizziness, headache, impaired consciousness, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Lab studies have shown higher leukocyte counts and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), decreased lymphocytes, increased prothrombin time and a partial thromboplastin time, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and various other markers, indicating multiple organ system dysfunction including respiratory system, immune system, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Apart from these, heart and kidneys are also found to be affected in some patients. Patients presenting with previous history of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, pregnant females, neonates, immunosuppressed patients, and aged people have shown poor prognosis of disease. Various studies suggest possible reasons of multiple organ dysfunctions including wide distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors, cytokine storm and hypercoagulability of blood. We have listed the various organ systems affected by the virus and possible explanations as to why and how these organ systems are affected. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has caused a global pandemic, with more than 33,400,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including more than 1,000,000 deaths, reported to World Health Organization (WHO) globally till 30 September 2020. 1 with a basic reproductive number estimated to be 2.2 (1.4 - 3.9) the virus spread is very fast affecting many individuals across the globe. 2 One of the major causes of efficient spread of SARS-CoV-2 in humans is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, used by the virus to enter the cells. 3 Hence, wide distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in body including lungs, kidney, bladder, gastrointestinal tract, heart, central nervous system and peripheral nervous system4 and even placenta5 is one of the reasons the virus is found to affect these organs. Two closely related viruses causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) were also found to affect multiple organ systems. SARS‐CoV-1 was found in the respiratory pathway (trachea, bronchus, lung), gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestines), glands (sweat gland, liver, pancreas, parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal gland), renal system (convoluted renal tubules) and brain tissue (cerebrum) in the autopsy samples of patients who died because of severe acute respiratory syndrome. 6 Respiratory, circulatory, gastrointestinal, haematological, renal and hepatological symptoms were also found to be affected in patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome infection. 7 Though the virus is found to affect multiple organ systems, the underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood.


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