The recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 and its spread worldwide caused an acute pandemic of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Since then, COVID-19 has been under intense scrutiny as its outbreak led to significant changes in healthcare, social activities, and economic settings worldwide. Although angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor is shown to be the primary port of SARS-CoV-2 entry in cells, the mechanisms behind the establishment and pathologies of COVID-19 are poorly understood. As recent studies have shown that host mitochondria play an essential role in virus-mediated innate immune response, pathologies, and infection, in this review, we will discuss in detail the entry and progression of SARS-CoV-2 and how mitochondria could play roles in COVID-19 disease. We will also review the potential interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and mitochondria and discuss possible treatments, including whether mitochondria as a potential therapeutic target in COVID-19. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 and mitochondrial interactions mediated virus establishment, inflammation, and other consequences may provide a unique mechanism and conceptual advancement in finding a novel treatment for COVID-19.
The recent emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus 2
(SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 and its spread worldwide caused an acute
pandemic of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). COVID-19 pathologies are
currently under intense scrutiny as its outbreak led to immense and
urgent changes worldwide. Although many theories have been introduced on
how SARS-CoV-2 enters the host, the ACE-2 receptor is shown to be the
primary mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 entry. However, the mechanism behind the
establishment and pathology of infection is poorly understood. As recent
studies show that host mitochondria play an essential role in
virus-mediated innate immune response, in this review, we will discuss,
in detail, the entry and progression of SARS-CoV-2 and how mitochondria
play a role in the establishment of viral infection and the development
of an immune response, whether it is beneficial or not. We will also
review the possible treatments that could be used to prevent the
surgency of COVID-19 infection with respect to the role of mitochondria.
Understanding the mitochondria-mediated SARS-CoV-2 establishment may
provide a unique mechanism and conceptual advancement in finding a novel
treatment for COVID-19.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.