Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Visualizing Lung Cellular Adaptations during Combined Ozone and LPS Induced Murine Acute Lung Injury
14:48

Visualizing Lung Cellular Adaptations during Combined Ozone and LPS Induced Murine Acute Lung Injury

Published on: March 21, 2021

5.3K

Roles of steroid receptors in the lung and COVID-19

Damien A Leach1, Greg N Brooke1,2, Charlotte L Bevan1

  • 1Division of Cancer, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, U.K.

Essays in Biochemistry
|July 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Steroid hormone receptors influence COVID-19 lung damage by affecting viral entry proteins. Clinical trials are exploring steroid receptor ligands as potential treatments for COVID-19.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Virology

Background:

  • COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) primarily affects the lungs, leading to significant mortality.
  • SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2) infection of lung cells depends on host proteins like ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) and TMPRSS2 (transmembrane serine protease 2).
  • Steroid hormone receptors (SRs) play crucial roles in lung development, function, and immunity, and influence the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of steroid hormone receptors (androgen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, progesterone receptor, mineralocorticoid receptor, oestrogen receptor) in the lung.
  • To examine how SRs affect host cell proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry.
  • To summarize ongoing clinical trials investigating SR ligands for COVID-19 treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on steroid hormone receptors and COVID-19.
  • Analysis of the impact of SRs on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression and function.
  • Survey of current clinical trials involving SR ligands for COVID-19.

Main Results:

  • Steroid hormone receptors are implicated in lung physiology and the immune response relevant to COVID-19.
  • SRs modulate the expression and activity of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, key mediators of SARS-CoV-2 entry.
  • Several clinical trials are evaluating the therapeutic potential of various SR ligands in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

  • Steroid hormone receptors are critical regulators in the lung's response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Targeting SR pathways with specific ligands presents a promising therapeutic strategy for managing COVID-19.
  • Further research and clinical evaluation are essential to establish the efficacy of SR-based treatments for COVID-19.
Keywords:
COVID-19androgenestrogensnuclear receptorssars-cov-2steroids

More Related Videos

Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia08:05

Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia

Published on: December 19, 2020

14.4K
Isolation of Lung Retinoid-Containing Cells by Cell Sorting07:47

Isolation of Lung Retinoid-Containing Cells by Cell Sorting

Published on: April 11, 2025

471

Related Concept Videos

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
494
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors01:31

Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors

Nuclear receptors, or NRs, are unique transcription factors that regulate gene transcription and affect the cellular pathways involved in reproduction, development, or metabolism. Their ability to be stimulated by small lipophilic ligands and control vital cellular processes makes them ideal drug targets. Nearly 10-15% of currently prescribed drugs target these receptors.
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
1.9K
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features01:20

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
807
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily in treating persistent asthma and providing long-term maintenance. They target the bronchial mucosa, the lining of the airways, to control inflammation, a critical factor in asthma progression and exacerbation.
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
544
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:17

Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Lower respiratory tract disorders present challenges that often require skilled and nuanced approaches for effective management. Common ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have prompted the development of intricate treatment strategies involving bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, each tailored to ease breathing and revitalize the lungs.
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
730
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
3.4K