Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Metabolic Adaptation in Metabolic Diseases
08:12

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Metabolic Adaptation in Metabolic Diseases

Published on: October 4, 2024

2.4K

RAAS Overactivation and Mitochondrial Damage Signaling as Key Players in Lethal COVID-19

Sabrina Fulkerson1, Grace Hohman1, Tyler Stark1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA.

Current Drug Targets
|May 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection impacts multiple organs, with mitochondrial damage and RAAS overactivation contributing to COVID-19 severity. Targeting these pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for patients.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pathology
  • Mitochondrial Biology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, resulted in a global pandemic with significant mortality.
  • Previous research often relied on nasal swabs and blood, limiting understanding of systemic organ involvement.
  • A comprehensive analysis of affected organ systems in COVID-19 is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the systemic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection beyond respiratory and blood samples.
  • To identify key molecular pathways contributing to COVID-19 pathogenesis and severity.
  • To explore potential therapeutic targets for managing severe COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of nasal samples and autopsy tissues from individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.
  • Examination of mitochondrial damage pathways in affected tissues.
  • Assessment of the role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) in disease progression.

Main Results:

  • Significant evidence of mitochondrial damage pathways activated in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Overactivation of the RAAS was identified as a key factor in disease severity.
  • Findings indicate a multi-organ impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondrial dysfunction and RAAS overactivation are critical contributors to severe COVID-19.
  • These pathways represent promising druggable targets for novel COVID-19 therapies.
  • Further research into these mechanisms could lead to improved patient outcomes.
Keywords:
AldosteroneCOVID-19RAAS overactivationSARS-CoV-2mitochondrial damagemitochondrial dysfunction.

More Related Videos

Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke11:32

Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Published on: January 3, 2025

1.5K
Modeling Mitochondrial Disease Using Brain Organoids: A Focus on Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes08:56

Modeling Mitochondrial Disease Using Brain Organoids: A Focus on Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes

Published on: October 10, 2025

639

Related Concept Videos

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
18.5K
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
8.0K
Mitochondrial Membranes01:45

Mitochondrial Membranes

A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
16.6K
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a...
7.1K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.6K
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
4.4K