Abstract
Purpose of review: Several environmental contaminants have been implicated as contributors to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Immunomodulation and epigenetic regulation have been hypothesized as mediators of this relationship, but the precise underlying molecular mechanisms are not well-characterized. This review examines the evidence for epigenetic modification at the intersection of COVID-19 and environmental chemical exposures.
Recent findings: Numerous environmental contaminants including air pollutants, toxic metal(loid)s, per- and polyfluorinated substances, and endocrine disrupting chemicals are hypothesized to increase susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the risk of severe COVID-19, but few studies currently exist. Drawing on evidence that many environmental chemicals alter the epigenetic regulation of key immunity genes and pathways, we discuss how exposures likely perturb host antiviral responses. Specific mechanisms vary by contaminant but include general immunomodulation as well as regulation of viral entry and recognition, inflammation, and immunologic memory pathways, among others. Associations between environmental contaminants and COVID-19 are likely mediated, in part, by epigenetic regulation of key immune pathways involved in the host response to SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: COVID-19; Environmental chemicals; Epigenetics; Immune system; Infectious disease.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, immune system, epigenetics, Infectious disease., Environmental chemicals, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Inflammation, severe COVID-19, Immunity, susceptibility, severity, immunomodulation, risk, SARS-CoV-2 virus, host response, Infectious disease, immune system, molecular mechanism, viral entry, epigenetics, memory, disease, Epigenetic, mechanism, COVID-19 susceptibility, Evidence, Endocrine, Pathways, Immunologic memory, Recognition, Regulation, among others, epigenetic modification, Intersection, Modification, Specific, host antiviral responses, Alter, recent, contaminant, include, involved, implicated, disrupting, Numerous, Drawing, immune pathway, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 【제목키워드】 Chemical, exposure,