Systemic inflammation
Chronic systemic inflammation (SI) is the result of release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune-related cells and the chronic activation of the innate immune system.
It can contribute to the development or progression of certain conditions such as coronary heart disease.[1]
Mechanisms
Release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of the innate immune system may be the result of either external (biological or chemical agents) or internal (genetic mutations/variations) factors. The cytokine Interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein are common inflammatory markers used to diagnose systemic inflammation risk.[2] Baseline C-reactive protein levels deviate due to natural genetic variation, but significant increases can result from risk factors such as smoking, obesity, lifestyle, and high blood pressure.[2]
Comorbidities
It is firmly established that systemic markers for inflammation predict coronary heart disease complications with or without existing heart disease.[1] Inflammation also plays a role in diabetes risk and new research continues to support this conclusion.[3]
Research suggests chronic inflammation plays a major role in COVID-19 morbidity.[4][5] In severe cases, COVID-19 causes a cytokine storm which contributes to excessive and uncontrolled inflammation of organs, particularly respiratory tissues.[6][7] If untreated, this increased inflammation can result in reduced immune response, pneumonia, lymphoid tissue damage, and death.[6] Individuals with abnormal cytokine production, such as those with obesity or systemic chronic inflammation, have a poorer health outcomes from COVID-19.[4][5] Elevated cytokine production alters the innate immune response which leads to abnormal T-cell and B-Cell function that decreases control of viral replication and host defense.[4] Anti-viral therapeutic drugs which also reduce inflammation seem to be the most effective treatment, but research is still ongoing.[7] Reactive oxygen species are upregulated during inflammation as part of the immune response to defend against pathogens.[8] However, excessive inflammation causes dangerous levels of reactive oxygen species which cause oxidative stress to tissues.[8] The immune system naturally produces antioxidant compounds to regulate and detoxify reactive oxygen species.[8] Anti-oxidative therapy with supplements such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Curcumin, or Baicalin is speculated to reduce infection severity in COVID-19,[9][7] but previous research has not found antioxidants supplementation to be effective in the prevention of other diseases.[10] Shifting from the typical western diet to a Mediterranean diet or plant-based diet may improve COVID-19 health outcomes by reducing prevalence of comorbidities (i.e. obesity or hypertension), decreasing intake of pro-inflammatory foods, and increasing consumption of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients.[7][11][12]
Research
While SI may be induced by multiple external factors, research suggests that a lack of control by tolerogenic dendritic cells and T-regulatory cells (Treg) is possibly the primary risk factor for the development of SI. In functioning immune responses, T-helper and T-cytotoxic cells are activated by presentation of antigens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Chief among these are dendritic cells (DCs). When a DC presents an antigen to a Treg cell, a signal is then sent to the nucleus of the DC, resulting in the production of Indoleamine 2,3- Dioxygenase (IDO). IDO inhibits T cell responses by depleting tryptophan and producing kynurenine, which is toxic to the cell.
Individuals susceptible to developing chronic systemic inflammation appear to lack proper functioning of Treg cells and TDCs. In these individuals, a lack of control of inflammatory processes results in multiple chemical and food intolerances, autoimmune diseases.
See also
References
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- Sproston, Nicola R.; Ashworth, Jason J. (2018-04-13). "Role of C-Reactive Protein at Sites of Inflammation and Infection". Frontiers in Immunology. 9: 754. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.00754. ISSN 1664-3224. PMC 5908901. PMID 29706967.
- Tsalamandris, Sotirios; Antonopoulos, Alexios S.; Oikonomou, Evangelos; Papamikroulis, George-Aggelos; Vogiatzi, Georgia; Papaioannou, Spyridon; Deftereos, Spyros; Tousoulis, Dimitris (February 2019). "The Role of Inflammation in Diabetes: Current Concepts and Future Perspectives". European Cardiology Review. 14 (1): 50–59. doi:10.15420/ecr.2018.33.1. ISSN 1758-3756. PMC 6523054. PMID 31131037.
- Chiappetta, Sonja; Sharma, Arya M.; Bottino, Vincenzo; Stier, Christine (May 2020). "COVID-19 and the role of chronic inflammation in patients with obesity". International Journal of Obesity. 44 (8): 1790–1792. doi:10.1038/s41366-020-0597-4. ISSN 1476-5497. PMC 7224343. PMID 32409680.
- Yang, Jing; Zheng, Ya; Gou, Xi; Pu, Ke; Chen, Zhaofeng; Guo, Qinghong; Ji, Rui; Wang, Haojia; Wang, Yuping; Zhou, Yongning (May 2020). "Prevalence of comorbidities and its effects in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis". International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 94: 91–95. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.017. ISSN 1201-9712. PMC 7194638. PMID 32173574.
- Tang, Yujun; Liu, Jiajia; Zhang, Dingyi; Xu, Zhenghao; Ji, Jinjun; Wen, Chengping (2020-07-10). "Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: The Current Evidence and Treatment Strategies". Frontiers in Immunology. 11: 1708. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01708. ISSN 1664-3224. PMC 7365923. PMID 32754163.
- Zabetakis, Ioannis; Lordan, Ronan; Norton, Catherine; Tsoupras, Alexandros (2020-05-19). "COVID-19: The Inflammation Link and the Role of Nutrition in Potential Mitigation". Nutrients. 12 (5): 1466. doi:10.3390/nu12051466. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 7284818. PMID 32438620.
- Mittal, Manish; Siddiqui, Mohammad Rizwan; Tran, Khiem; Reddy, Sekhar P.; Malik, Asrar B. (2014-03-01). "Reactive Oxygen Species in Inflammation and Tissue Injury". Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 20 (7): 1126–1167. doi:10.1089/ars.2012.5149. ISSN 1523-0864. PMC 3929010. PMID 23991888.
- Wang, Jing-Zhang; Zhang, Rui-Ying; Bai, Jing (2020-08-01). "An anti-oxidative therapy for ameliorating cardiac injuries of critically ill COVID-19-infected patients". International Journal of Cardiology. 312: 137–138. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.04.009. ISSN 0167-5273. PMC 7133895. PMID 32321655.
- Katsiki, Niki; Manes, Christos (February 2009). "Is there a role for supplemented antioxidants in the prevention of atherosclerosis?". Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 28 (1): 3–9. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2008.10.011. ISSN 1532-1983. PMID 19042058.
- Rishi, Praveen; Thakur, Khemraj; Vij, Shania; Rishi, Lavanya; Singh, Aagamjit; Kaur, Indu Pal; Patel, Sanjay K. S.; Lee, Jung-Kul; Kalia, Vipin C. (2020-09-28). "Diet, Gut Microbiota and COVID-19". Indian Journal of Microbiology. 60 (4): 420–429. doi:10.1007/s12088-020-00908-0. ISSN 0046-8991. PMC 7521193. PMID 33012868.
- Di Renzo, Laura; Gualtieri, Paola; Pivari, Francesca; Soldati, Laura; Attinà, Alda; Cinelli, Giulia; Leggeri, Claudia; Caparello, Giovanna; Barrea, Luigi; Scerbo, Francesco; Esposito, Ernesto (2020-06-08). "Eating habits and lifestyle changes during COVID-19 lockdown: an Italian survey". Journal of Translational Medicine. 18 (1): 229. doi:10.1186/s12967-020-02399-5. ISSN 1479-5876. PMC 7278251. PMID 32513197.