Gaetano Carlo, Atlante Sandra, Gottardi Zamperla Michela, Barbi Veronica, Gentilini Davide, Illi Barbara, Malavolta Marco, Martelli Fabio, Farsetti Antonella
Laboratory of Epigenetics, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, National Research Council (CNR)-IASI, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Geroscience. 2025 Feb;47(1):483-501. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01406-7. Epub 2024 Nov 5.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a lasting legacy on human health, extending beyond the acute phase of infection. This article explores the evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce persistent epigenetic modifications, particularly in DNA methylation patterns, with potential long-term consequences for individuals' health and aging trajectories. The review discusses the potential of DNA methylation-based biomarkers, such as epigenetic clocks, to identify individuals at risk for accelerated aging and tailor personalized interventions. Integrating epigenetic clock analysis into clinical management could mark a new era of personalized treatment for COVID-19, possibly helping clinicians to understand patient susceptibility to severe outcomes and establish preventive strategies. Several valuable reviews address the role of epigenetics in infectious diseases, including the Sars-CoV-2 infection. However, this article provides an original overview of the current understanding of the epigenetic dimensions of COVID-19, offering insights into the long-term health implications of the pandemic. While acknowledging the limitations of current data, we emphasize the need for future research to unravel the precise mechanisms underlying COVID-19-induced epigenetic changes and to explore potential approaches to target these modifications.
新冠疫情给人类健康留下了持久影响，其影响范围超出了感染急性期。本文探讨了相关证据，这些证据表明严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）感染可诱导持续性表观遗传修饰，尤其是在DNA甲基化模式方面，这可能对个体健康和衰老轨迹产生长期影响。该综述讨论了基于DNA甲基化的生物标志物（如表观遗传时钟）识别加速衰老风险个体并制定个性化干预措施的潜力。将表观遗传时钟分析纳入临床管理可能标志着新冠疫情个性化治疗的新时代，有望帮助临床医生了解患者对严重后果的易感性并制定预防策略。已有几篇有价值的综述探讨了表观遗传学在包括SARS-CoV-2感染在内的传染病中的作用。然而，本文提供了对当前新冠疫情表观遗传层面理解的原创性概述，深入探讨了该疫情对长期健康的影响。在承认当前数据局限性的同时，我们强调未来研究需要揭示新冠疫情诱导表观遗传变化的精确机制，并探索针对这些修饰的潜在方法。
