IMPLICATIONS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND POTENTIAL ROLE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION IN COVID-19: THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF VITAMIN D

NATALIA DE LAS HERAS; WALTER MANUCHA; VIRNA M. MARTÍN GIMÉNEZ; VICENTE LAHERA; LEÓN FERDER

Antioxidants (Basel)

MDPI

Año: 2020 p. 1 - 23

2076-3921

Due to its high degree of contagiousness and like almost no other virus, SARS-CoV-2 hasput the health of the world population on alert. COVID-19 can provoke an acute inflammatoryprocess and uncontrolled oxidative stress, which predisposes one to respiratory syndrome, and in theworst case, death. Recent evidence suggests the mechanistic role of mitochondria and vitamin D inthe development of COVID-19. Indeed, mitochondrial dynamics contribute to the maintenance ofcellular homeostasis, and its uncoupling involves pathological situations. SARS-CoV-2 infection isassociated with altered mitochondrial dynamics with consequent oxidative stress, pro-inflammatorystate, cytokine production, and cell death. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency seems to be associatedwith increased COVID-19 risk. In contrast, vitamin D can normalize mitochondrial dynamics, whichwould improve oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory state, and cytokine production. Furthermore,vitamin D reduces renin?angiotensin?aldosterone system activation and, consequently, decreases ROSgeneration and improves the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, the purpose of this review is todeepen the knowledge about the role of mitochondria and vitaminDdirectly involved in the regulationof oxidative stress and the inflammatory state in SARS-CoV-2 infection. As future prospects, evidencesuggests enhancing the vitamin D levels of the world population, especially of those individuals withadditional risk factors that predispose to the lethal consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.