Cellular Senescence and COVID-19

Title:Cellular Senescence and COVID-19

Volume: 2 Issue: 11

Author(s): Farhan Rahman Chowdhury and Tofazzal Islam*

Affiliation:

• Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706,Bangladesh

Keywords: COVID-19, cellular senescence, ageing, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 therapeutics, senolytics.

Abstract: Older adults are at a higher risk of developing serious illness and mortality from COVID-19. Among a multitude of factors, cellular senescence associated with ageing, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes seems to be statistically correlated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infections and mortality. Surface proteins such as vimentin and CD26 that are differentially expressed on senescent cells seem important for SARS-CoV-2 attachment and internalization. Potential therapeutic agents against this novel virus also exhibit senolytic and anti-inflammatory actions, implicating that their beneficial effects could, in part, be attributed to their senescent cell removal and the associated inflammatory phenotype neutralizing properties. Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms that connect cellular senescence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection might help direct towards development of effective therapeutics for elderly patients of COVID-19.

Cite this article as:

Chowdhury Rahman Farhan and Islam Tofazzal *, Cellular Senescence and COVID-19, Coronaviruses 2021; 2 (11) : e310821190016 . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2666796701666210108120344