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Tissue Proteases and Immune Responses: Influencing Factors of COVID-19 Severity and Mortality
Natália Mulinari Turin de Oliveira1,2, Isabella Fernandes da Silva Figueiredo1,2, Liziane Cristine Malaquias da Silva1,2
1Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Av. Iguaçu No 333, Curitiba, PR 80250-200, Brazil.
Insights
This review explores why some individuals develop severe COVID-19. It examines how tissue protease levels and immune responses impact susceptibility and disease outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has caused a global pandemic.
- Disease severity varies significantly, with older adults and those with comorbidities being at higher risk.
- However, severe cases also occur in younger individuals without pre-existing conditions, indicating complex host factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the influence of tissue protease expression on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity.
- To discuss how varying immune response profiles affect COVID-19 outcomes.
- To explore the underlying host factors contributing to differential disease progression in COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on COVID-19 pathogenesis.
- Analysis of research on host-pathogen interactions.
- Synthesis of data concerning protease activity and immune system variations in relation to COVID-19 severity.
Main Results:
- Expression levels of tissue proteases are implicated in SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication.
- Distinct immune response profiles correlate with differing COVID-19 severity and outcomes.
- Host genetic factors and protein expression patterns contribute to individual susceptibility.
Conclusions:
- Tissue proteases and immune response profiles are critical determinants of COVID-19 severity.
- Understanding these factors can help predict disease progression and inform therapeutic strategies.
- Further research into host-specific responses is crucial for managing COVID-19.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by the highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has affected the global population despite socioeconomic status and amazed surveillance agencies for its incidence, mortality, and recovery rates. COVID-19 affects all age groups; however, it is suggested to progress into severe disease and cause mortality in over 10% of the confirmed cases, depending on the individual characteristics of the affected population. One of the biggest unanswered questions it is why only some individuals develop into the severe stages of the disease. Current data indicate that most of the critically ill are the elderly or those with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. However, it has been noted that, in some populations, severe disease is mostly observed in much younger individuals (<60-years old) with no reported underlying medical conditions. Certainly, many factors may contribute to disease severity including intrinsic host factors such as genetic variants, the expression levels of tissue proteins, among others. Considering all these aspects, this review aims to discuss how the expression levels of tissue proteases and the different profiles of immune responses influence the susceptibility to COVID-19 as well as disease severity and outcome.
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