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Mitochondria: In the Cross Fire of SARS-CoV-2 and Immunity

Johannes Burtscher1,2, Giuseppe Cappellano3,4, Akiko Omori5,6

  • 1Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Iscience
|October 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrial health is crucial for innate immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Maintaining mitochondrial integrity may reduce infection risk and severity, highlighting potential biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Mitochondrial Biology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathophysiology and immune evasion strategies remain unclear.
  • Viruses, including coronaviruses, exploit host mitochondria in immune response.
  • Differential population vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review viral strategies targeting mitochondria in innate immunity.
  • To contextualize these strategies with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • To explore the role of mitochondrial integrity in SARS-CoV-2 vulnerability and outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of viral usurpation of mitochondria-associated immune mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of existing knowledge on coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2.
  • Analysis of the link between mitochondrial function and host defense.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondrial integrity is essential for effective innate immune responses against SARS-CoV-2.
  • SARS-CoV-2 may modulate mitochondrial functions, impacting host defense.
  • Mitochondrial health could explain differential vulnerability and disease severity.

Conclusions:

  • Maintaining mitochondrial integrity is key to blunting SARS-CoV-2's impact.
  • Markers of mitochondrial function may serve as biomarkers for infection risk and severity.
  • Further research is needed on mitochondrial involvement, lifestyle, and therapeutic strategies, considering interactions with chronic diseases like Parkinson's.
Keywords:
Cell BiologyImmunologyVirology

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