Private Practice of Neurology, Neuroceuta. (Virgen de África Clinic), Ceuta, Spain.
UNIR Research, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Madrid, Spain.
Virus Res. 2021 Jul 2;299:198347. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198347. Epub 2021 Feb 22.
There is a marked discrepancy between SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa. MAIN: SARS-CoV-2 stimulates humoral and cellular immunity systems, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear NF-kB signalling pathways, which regulate inflammatory gene expression and immune cell differentiation. The result is pro-inflammatory cytokines release, hyperinflammatory condition, and cytokine storm, which provoke severe lung alterations that can lead to multi-organ failure in COVID-19. Multiple genetic and immunologic factors may contribute to the severity of COVID-19 in African individuals when compared to the rest of the global population. In this article, the role of malaria, NF-kB and MAPK pathways, caspase-12 expression, high level of LAIR-1-containing antibodies, and differential glycophorins (GYPA/B) expression in COVID-19 are discussed.
Understanding pathophysiological mechanisms can help identify target points for drugs and vaccines development against COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is the first study that explores this link and proposes a biological and molecular answer to the epidemiologic discrepancy in COVID-19 in Africa.
在非洲，SARS-CoV-2 的血清流行率与 COVID-19 病例和死亡之间存在显著差异。
SARS-CoV-2 刺激体液和细胞免疫系统，以及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）和核 NF-kB 信号通路，调节炎症基因表达和免疫细胞分化。其结果是促炎细胞因子的释放、过度炎症状态和细胞因子风暴，导致 COVID-19 中严重的肺部改变，可能导致多器官衰竭。与全球其他人群相比，多种遗传和免疫因素可能导致非洲个体 COVID-19 的严重程度不同。本文讨论了疟疾、NF-kB 和 MAPK 通路、半胱天冬酶-12 表达、高含量含 LAIR-1 抗体以及不同糖蛋白（GYPA/B）表达在 COVID-19 中的作用。
了解病理生理机制有助于确定针对 COVID-19 的药物和疫苗开发的靶点。据我们所知，这是第一项探讨这一联系的研究，并为非洲 COVID-19 流行病学差异提出了生物学和分子答案。
