gracelive

AUTHOR: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

CONTACT: soplab@outlook.kr

DATE: 2020.03.19

CONTENT:

 te Velthuis et al reported that Zn(2+) inhibits the replication of SARS coronaviruses in cell culture study. They found that the SARS-CoV RdRp elongation was inhibited and template binding reduced by Zn(2+).[1]

 Mocchegiani et al found that old people aged 60-65 years with specific IL-6 polymorphism (GG allele carriers; named C-) had a low level of zinc and the proinflammatory status of IL-6. With zinc supplementation, the inflammatory responses by IL-6 were ameliorated into the healthy condition.[2]

 Old people have a tendency to have an increased level of IL-6  associated with the aging process.[3]

 It has known that increased IL-6 production by Th2 cells and macrophages.[4]

 This Th2 shifting immunity is susceptible to viral infection. 

 About the immunity of COVID-19, Xu et al revealed Th2 immune skewness polarized by IL-6 and TGF-β, which is vulnerable to viral infection.[5]

 With a constellation of the above data, although there is no report about the relationship between zinc and novel coronaviral infection(COVID-19, Wuhan Coronaviral infection), the author thinks that zinc can be a supportive nutritional mineral for anti-viral immunity in COVID-19.

REFERENCE:

[1] te Velthuis AJ, van den Worm SH, Sims AC, Baric RS, Snijder EJ, van Hemert
MJ. Zn(2+) inhibits coronavirus and arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro
and zinc ionophores block the replication of these viruses in cell culture. PLoS
Pathog. 2010 Nov 4;6(11):e1001176.

[2] Mocchegiani E, Romeo J, Malavolta M, Costarelli L, Giacconi R, Diaz LE,
Marcos A. Zinc: dietary intake and impact of supplementation on immune function in elderly. Age (Dordr). 2013 Jun;35(3):839-60. doi: 10.1007/s11357-011-9377-3.
Epub 2012 Jan 6. PMID: 22222917; PMCID: PMC3636409.

[3] Franceschi C. Inflammaging as a major characteristic of old people: can it be prevented or cured? Nutr Rev. 2007 Dec;65(12 Pt 2):S173-6.

[4] Mocchegiani E, Muzzioli M, Cipriano C, Giacconi R. Zinc, T-cell pathways, aging: role of metallothioneins. Mech Ageing Dev. 1998;106:183–204.

[5] Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y, Zhang J, et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;S2213-2600(20)30076-X.

AUTHOR: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

CONTACT: E mail: soplab@outlook.kr

DATE: 2020.03.17

CONTENT:

 In the pulmonary cases of COVID-19, Xu et al found the cytotoxic T cells with cytolytic activity which is associated with Th17 CD4 T cells polarized by IL-6 and TGF-β. This immunopathology led to diffuse alveolar and interstitial damage with pulmonary edema, pathologically and subsequent acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) and secondary pneumonia, clinically.[1]   

 As a nutritional candidate to modulate both IL-6 and TGF-β, vitamin D can be considered. 

 Dalvi et al reported that the serum level of IL-6 was significantly increased and vitamin D3 decreased in tuberculosis multidrug-resistant group. Conversely, we can expect that the elevated serum level of vitamin D may reduce that of IL-6.[2]

 Hu et al mentioned the protecting role of vitamin D in diabetic nephropathy. One of the mechanisms to suppress pro-inflammatory responses was to inhibit production of TGF-β.[3]

 In conclusion, because the problematic immunopathology in the lung injury by COVID-19 is the elevated serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β, we can infer that vitamin D to counteract these inflammatory responses may play a role somewhat in ameliorating the lung injury by COVID-19. About this, further studies will be necessary. 

REFERENCE:

[1] Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y, Zhang J, et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;S2213-2600(20)30076-X.

[2] Dalvi SM, Ramraje NN, Patil VW, Hegde R, Yeram N. Study of IL-6 and vitamin D3 in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis. Indian J Tuberc. 2019 Jul;66(3):337-345.

[3] Hu X, Liu W, Yan Y, Liu H, Huang Q, Xiao Y, Gong Z, Du J. Vitamin D protects against diabetic nephropathy: Evidence-based effectiveness and mechanism. Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Feb 15;845:91-98.