Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon

COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which leads to pulmonary manifestations like acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition, COVID-19 may cause extra-pulmonary manifestation such as testicular injury....

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Main Authors: Hayder M. Al-kuraishy, Ali I. Al-Gareeb, Hani Faidah, Athanasios Alexiou, Gaber El-Saber Batiha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.666987/full
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author Hayder M. Al-kuraishy
Ali I. Al-Gareeb
Hani Faidah
Athanasios Alexiou
Athanasios Alexiou
Gaber El-Saber Batiha
author_facet Hayder M. Al-kuraishy
Ali I. Al-Gareeb
Hani Faidah
Athanasios Alexiou
Athanasios Alexiou
Gaber El-Saber Batiha
author_sort Hayder M. Al-kuraishy
collection DOAJ
description COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which leads to pulmonary manifestations like acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition, COVID-19 may cause extra-pulmonary manifestation such as testicular injury. Both high and low levels of testosterone could affect the severity of COVID-19. Herein, there is substantial controversy regarding the potential role of testosterone in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Therefore, the present study aimed to review and elucidate the assorted view of preponderance regarding the beneficial and harmful effects of testosterone in COVID-19. A related literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct was done. All published articles related to the role of testosterone and COVID-19 were included in this mini-review. The beneficial effects of testosterone in COVID-19 are through inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, augmentation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, modulation of the immune response, attenuation of oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. However, its harmful effects in COVID-19 are due to augmentation of transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), which is essential for cleaving and activating SARS-CoV-2 spike protein during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most published studies illustrated that low testosterone levels are linked to COVID-19 severity. A low testosterone level in COVID-19 is mainly due to testicular injury, the primary source of testosterone.
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spelling doaj.art-5eed6755ea374192aee40954c899a4f52022-12-21T21:30:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882021-09-011110.3389/fcimb.2021.666987666987Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade BoonHayder M. Al-kuraishy0Ali I. Al-Gareeb1Hani Faidah2Athanasios Alexiou3Athanasios Alexiou4Gaber El-Saber Batiha5Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, IraqDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, IraqFaculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Mecca, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW, AustraliaAFNP Med Austria, Wien, AustriaDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, EgyptCOVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which leads to pulmonary manifestations like acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition, COVID-19 may cause extra-pulmonary manifestation such as testicular injury. Both high and low levels of testosterone could affect the severity of COVID-19. Herein, there is substantial controversy regarding the potential role of testosterone in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Therefore, the present study aimed to review and elucidate the assorted view of preponderance regarding the beneficial and harmful effects of testosterone in COVID-19. A related literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct was done. All published articles related to the role of testosterone and COVID-19 were included in this mini-review. The beneficial effects of testosterone in COVID-19 are through inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, augmentation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, modulation of the immune response, attenuation of oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. However, its harmful effects in COVID-19 are due to augmentation of transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), which is essential for cleaving and activating SARS-CoV-2 spike protein during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most published studies illustrated that low testosterone levels are linked to COVID-19 severity. A low testosterone level in COVID-19 is mainly due to testicular injury, the primary source of testosterone.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.666987/fullanti-inflammatory cytokinesCOVID-19pro-inflammatory cytokinestestosteroneTMPRSS2
spellingShingle Hayder M. Al-kuraishy
Ali I. Al-Gareeb
Hani Faidah
Athanasios Alexiou
Athanasios Alexiou
Gaber El-Saber Batiha
Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
anti-inflammatory cytokines
COVID-19
pro-inflammatory cytokines
testosterone
TMPRSS2
title Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon
title_full Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon
title_fullStr Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon
title_full_unstemmed Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon
title_short Testosterone in COVID-19: An Adversary Bane or Comrade Boon
title_sort testosterone in covid 19 an adversary bane or comrade boon
topic anti-inflammatory cytokines
COVID-19
pro-inflammatory cytokines
testosterone
TMPRSS2
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.666987/full
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