The therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells in reducing cardiovascular complications in patients with severe COVID-19

Saghafi, Nafiseh; Rezaee, Seyed Abdolrahim; Momtazi-Borojeni, Amir Abbas; Tavasolian, Fataneh; Sathyapalan, Thozhukat; Abdollahi, Elham; Sahebkar, Amirhossein

Abstract

The SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) causes Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), is an emerging viral infection. SARS CoV-2 infects target cells by attaching to Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE2). SARS CoV-2 could cause cardiac damage in patients with severe COVID-19, as ACE2 is expressed in cardiac cells, including cardiomyocytes, pericytes, and fibroblasts, and coronavirus could directly infect these cells. Cardiovascular disorders are the most frequent comorbidity found in COVID-19 patients. Immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, and T cells may produce inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis if their functions are uncontrolled. This causes a cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients, which has been associated with cardiac damage. Tregs are a subset of immune cells that regulate immune and inflammatory responses. Tregs suppress inflammation and improve cardiovascular function through a variety of mechanisms. This is an exciting research area to explore the cellular, molecular, and immunological mechanisms related to reducing risks of cardiovascular complications in severe COVID-19. This review evaluated whether Tregs can affect COVID-19-related cardiovascular complications, as well as the mechanisms through which Tregs act.

Citation

Saghafi, N., Rezaee, S. A., Momtazi-Borojeni, A. A., Tavasolian, F., Sathyapalan, T., Abdollahi, E., & Sahebkar, A. (2022). The therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells in reducing cardiovascular complications in patients with severe COVID-19. Life Sciences, 294, Article 120392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120392

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 8, 2022
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 2, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 9, 2023
• Journal: Life Sciences
• Print ISSN: 0024-3205
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-0631
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 294
• Article Number: 120392
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120392
• Keywords: SARS CoV-2; COVID-19; Treatment; Tregs; Cardiovascular complications
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3928367