What chances do children have against COVID-19? Is the answer hidden within the thymus?
Eur J Pediatr
; 180(3): 983-986, 2021 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33047161
ABSTRACT
A new type of coronavirus named as SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has begun to threaten human health. As with other types of coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 affects children less frequently, and it has been observed that the disease is mild. In the pathogenesis of a standard viral infection, the pathogen's contact with the mucosa is initially followed by an innate immunity response. T cells are the primary decisive element in adaptive immunity capability. For this reason, the adaptive immune response mediated by the thymus is a process that regulates the immune response responsible for preventing invasive damage from a virus. Regulatory T cells (T-reg) are active during the early periods of life and have precise roles in immunomodulation. The thymus is highly active in the intrauterine and neonatal period; it begins to shrink after birth and continues its activity until adolescence. The loss of T-reg function by age results in difficulty with the control of the immune response, increased inflammation as shown in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as an inflammatory storm. Also, the thymus is typically able to replace the T cells destroyed by apoptosis caused by the virus. Thymus and T cells are the key factors of pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in children.Conclusion:
We speculated that thymus activity and T lymphocyte function in children protect them against the virus effects. Stimulating and preventing the inhibition of the thymus can be possible treatment components against COVID-19. What is Known ⢠The SARS-CoV-2 infection does not often progress with an invasive clinic in children. ⢠Thymus activity and T lymphocyte functions are highly active in children. What is New ⢠Effective thymus activity and T lymphocyte function in children protect them against the invasive SARS-CoV-2 infection. ⢠Stimulating and preventing the inhibition of the thymus can be possible treatment components against COVID-19.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Timo
/
Linfocitos T
/
Inmunidad Adaptativa
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Límite:
Child
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur J Pediatr
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Turquía