Epigenetic perspectives associated with COVID-19 infection and related cytokine storm: an updated review

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has put the world in a medical crisis for the past three years; nearly 6.3 million lives have been diminished due to the virus outbreak. This review aims to update the recent findings on COVID-19 infections from an epigenetic scenario and develop future perspectives of epi-drugs to treat the disease. Methods Original research articles and review studies related to COVID-19 were searched and analyzed from the Google Scholar/PubMed/Medline databases mainly between 2019 and 2022 to brief the recent work. Results Numerous in-depth studies of the mechanisms used by SARS-CoV-2 have been going on to minimize the consequences of the viral outburst. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 receptors and Transmembrane serine protease 2 facilitate viral entry to the host cells. Upon internalization, it uses the host machinery to replicate viral copies and alter the downstream regulation of the normal cells, causing infection-related morbidities and mortalities. In addition, several epigenetic regulations such as DNA methylation, acetylation, histone modifications, microRNA, and other factors (age, sex, etc.) are responsible for the regulations of viral entry, its immune evasion, and cytokine responses also play a major modulatory role in COVID-19 severity, which has been discussed in detail in this review. Conclusion Findings of epigenetic regulation of viral pathogenicity open a new window for epi-drugs as a possible therapeutical approach against COVID-19.

Immune characteristics of kidney transplant recipients with acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by COVID-19 at single-cell resolution

“…The SARS-CoV-2 variant triggers an immune response that can cause excessive and uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory markers. This can lead to a cytokine storm, which is associated with the development of ARDS [ 13 , 16 , 20 ]. Furthermore, the pathogenesis of the virus may give rise to a distinct form of ARDS, differing from “typical” ARDS [ 48 ], particularly in KTRs with COVID-19-induced ARDS.…”

HDAC1-3 inhibition increases SARS-CoV-2 replication and productive infection in lung mesothelial and epithelial cells

“…Besides regulating ACE2 expression, HDACs may impact SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and viral replication in different ways ( Dey et al., 2023 ). Several HDAC inhibitors were found to control SARS-CoV-2-S pseudovirus cell entry via inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis ( Liu et al., 2020 ).…”

Covid-19 And Cancer: Insights Into Their Association And Influence On Genetic And Epigenetic Landscape

“…The epigenetic scenario includes the multitude of ways to modify DNA conformation and access or denial to the transcription factors through epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation, histone methylation, acetylation, deacetylation and so on. The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its clinical presentation have been linked with epigenetic modifications responsible for viral entry regulation, mechanisms of immune evasion and cytokine-induced inflammatory responses [ 81 ]. The epigenetic scenario plays a modulatory role in COVID-19 severity and the occurrence of comorbidities in terms of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular complications and diseases like diabetes or cancer.…”