Microbiota Modulation of the Gut-Lung Axis in COVID-19

Autor(es)

Vilela de Oliveira, Gislane Lelis ^{[1, 2]} ; Simao Oliveira, Camilla Narjara ^[3] ; Pinzan, Camila Figueiredo ^{[4, 3]} ; Vilela de Salis, Larissa Vedovato ^[1] ; de Barros Cardoso, Cristina Ribeiro ^[4]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Inst Biosci Humanities & Exact Sci, Microbiol Program, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ, UNESP, Food Engn & Technol Dept, Inst Biosci Humanities & Exact Sci, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Biochem & Immunol, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Dept Clin Anal Toxicol & Food Sci, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo de Revisão
• Fonte: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY; v. 12, FEB 24 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 24

Resumo

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), to date, SARS-CoV-2 has already infected more than 91.8 million people worldwide with 1,986,871 deaths. This virus affects mainly the respiratory system, but the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is also a target, meanwhile SARS-CoV-2 was already detected in oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, rectum, and in fecal samples from COVID-19 patients. Prolonged GIT manifestations in COVID-19, mainly the diarrhea, were correlated with decreased richness and diversity of the gut microbiota, immune deregulation and delayed SARS-CoV-2 clearance. So, the bidirectional interactions between the respiratory mucosa and the gut microbiota, known as gut-lung axis, are supposed to be involved in the healthy or pathologic immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. In accordance, the intestinal dysbiosis is associated with increased mortality in other respiratory infections, due to an exacerbated inflammation and decreased regulatory or anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the lungs and in the gut, pointing to this important relationship between both mucosal compartments. Therefore, since the mucous membranes from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are affected, in addition to dysbiosis and inflammation, it is plausible to assume that adjunctive therapies based on the modulation of the gut microbiota and re-establishment of eubiosis conditions could be an important therapeutic approach for constraining the harmful consequences of COVID-19. Then, in this review, we summarized studies showing the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal system and the related digestive COVID-19 manifestations, in addition to the literature demonstrating nasopharyngeal, pulmonary and intestinal dysbiosis in COVID-19 patients. Lastly, we showed the potential beneficial role of probiotic administration in other respiratory infections, and discuss the possible role of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy in SARS-CoV-2 infection. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 21/00229-4 - Modulação da microbiota no eixo pulmão-intestino na COVID-19
• Beneficiário: Cristina Ribeiro de Barros Cardoso
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Publicações científicas - Artigo