Abstract
Background: 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.
Conclusion: 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.
Keywords: Africa; COVID-19; Caspase 12; Glycophorins; LAIR-1; MAPK; Malaria; NF-kB; PD-1; SARS-CoV-2.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Africa, PD-1, malaria, NF-kB, Caspase 12, Glycophorins, LAIR-1, MAPK, 【초록키워드】 antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, Vaccine, Cytokine storm, Cytokines, Gene Expression, knowledge, Genetic, lung, drug, PD-1, malaria, NF-kB, Protein, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, cellular immunity, severity of COVID-19, African, death, understanding, molecular, expression, caspase, Inflammatory, Immune cell, MAPK, regulate, Pathways, humoral, protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Factor, COVID-19 case, alteration, individual, help, multi-organ failure, pathophysiological mechanism, pro-inflammatory cytokine, discrepancy, Multiple, pathophysiological mechanisms, mitogen, nuclear, Hyperinflammatory, GYPA, identify, contribute, stimulate, provoke, 【제목키워드】 protection, genetics, African, therapeutic target,