Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2025
08:25
Advanced 3D Liver Models for In vitro Genotoxicity Testing Following Long-Term Nanomaterial Exposure
Published on: June 5, 2020
6.7K
Genotoxic risks in patients with COVID-19
Nurşen Başaran1, Olga Szewczyk-Roszczenko2, Piotr Roszczenko3
1Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Başkent University, Ankara 06790, Türkiye.
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic may lead to genotoxicity and cancer. Studies show increased DNA damage in severe COVID-19 patients, linked to SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and impaired DNA repair.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant global mortality.
- Long-term consequences, including genotoxicity and neoplasm development, remain a concern.
- This review addresses the potential for DNA damage and cancer following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on genotoxicity in COVID-19 patients.
- To explore the role of SARS-CoV-2 in DNA damage and repair inhibition.
- To assess DNA damage as a prognostic factor for COVID-19 outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of international studies on COVID-19 and DNA damage.
- Analysis of reported DNA damage levels in nucleated blood cells.
- Evaluation of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and viral inhibition of DNA repair.
Main Results:
- Multiple studies report elevated DNA damage in severe COVID-19 cases.
- DNA damage levels correlate with disease severity and prognosis.
- SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins are implicated in causing DNA damage.
- The virus appears to inhibit the body's DNA repair mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 infection is associated with significant genotoxicity.
- DNA damage serves as a potential prognostic biomarker for COVID-19.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term oncogenic risks.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
1.2K
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
1.2K
02:59Cancer Prevention
6.0K
Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Some...
6.0K
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
8.7K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
8.7K
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
13.9K
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
13.9K
01:07Teratogenicity
2.3K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.3K
01:35Mutations
33.1K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
33.1K