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Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 17, 2025  18 hours, 43 minutes ago

Immune and Antioxidant Responses in Young Patients with COVID-19

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Immune and Antioxidant Responses in Young Patients with COVID-19
Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 17, 2025  18 hours, 43 minutes ago
Medical News: Understanding COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has shown diverse impacts on global health. While older adults and those with underlying conditions are at a higher risk of severe illness, children and adolescents often experience mild symptoms or remain asymptomatic. To better understand why younger populations, show this resilience, researchers at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, conducted a detailed investigation into the interplay between two key biological systems: the NRF2 antioxidant pathway and the interferon (IFN) immune response. The study, covered in this Medical News report, brought together experts from various Italian institutions, including the Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, the Laboratory of Virology, and the Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences at Sapienza University. This collaborative research provides valuable insights into how young immune systems respond to SARS-CoV-2 and highlights possible therapeutic directions.


Immune and Antioxidant Responses in Young Patients with COVID-19

NRF2 Antioxidant Pathway and Its Role in Infection
The NRF2 pathway is a critical regulator of the body’s defense against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s antioxidant defenses. NRF2 helps restore balance by activating genes that produce antioxidant enzymes, protecting cells from damage. In this study, researchers found that young patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 exhibited significantly lower levels of NRF2 expression compared to those who tested negative. This suggests that the virus impairs antioxidant defenses, potentially creating an environment conducive to viral replication and inflammation.
 
Interferon Response and Antiviral Defense
The interferon system plays a vital role in the body’s ability to combat viral infections. Interferons are proteins that trigger antiviral defenses in nearby cells and stimulate the production of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). The study examined two types of interferons - Type I and Type III - along with related ISGs. SARS-CoV-2-positive young individuals showed increased expression of ISGs, particularly ISG15 and ISG56. This heightened ISG activity reflects an active antiviral response, even as antioxidant defenses were diminished. Interestingly, the levels of ISG activation varied based on symptoms, age, and the severity of the infection.
 
Key Findings from the Study
The research uncovered several significant patterns:
 
-Reduced NRF2 Expression in Positive Cases:
Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection had lower NRF2 levels, indicating a weakened antioxidant defense. This downregulation was linked to increased immune activity, suggesting that the body compensates by boosting other protective mechanisms.

-Symptom-Dependent Gene Expression: r />
Patients with symptoms like anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) exhibited higher expression of certain genes, such as APE1 and NLRP3, which are linked to inflammation. This group also had stronger interferon responses compared to asymptomatic patients.
 
-Age-Related Differences:
Adolescents were found to have higher levels of immune markers than younger children, particularly among those with symptoms like anosmia and ageusia. This suggests that the immune response intensifies with age, even within pediatric populations.
 
-Interplay Between Antioxidant and Immune Pathways:
A positive correlation was observed between NRF2 and certain immune components, like NLRP3. This indicates that while SARS-CoV-2 suppresses NRF2, the immune system works to maintain some level of defense.
 
Implications of the Findings
The study highlights how SARS-CoV-2 modulates antioxidant and immune pathways in young individuals. The suppression of NRF2, a key antioxidant regulator, coincides with an increase in ISG activity and inflammatory responses.
 
These findings help explain why children and adolescents generally experience milder symptoms than adults. Their immune systems appear to adapt by prioritizing antiviral defenses, even at the cost of reduced antioxidant protection.
 
Additionally, the results suggest that targeting the NRF2 pathway could be a promising therapeutic strategy. Enhancing NRF2 activity may help restore antioxidant balance, reduce inflammation, and improve overall outcomes for young patients with COVID-19.
 
Conclusions and Future Directions
The study provides critical insights into how the NRF2 pathway and interferon responses interact during mild COVID-19 cases in young individuals. It emphasizes that while NRF2 expression is suppressed, the immune system compensates with a robust interferon response, particularly in symptomatic patients. Adolescents, in particular, displayed a stronger immune activation compared to younger children.
 
These findings open the door to new treatment possibilities. Modulating NRF2 activity could be a key strategy to reduce symptoms and enhance recovery, especially in pediatric patients. Future research should explore the long-term effects of these biological interactions and investigate how NRF2-based therapies might benefit young COVID-19 patients.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Immunity Inflammation and Disease.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/iid3.70109
 
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/children-and-young-adults-have-increased-risk-of-developing-neuropsychiatric-conditions-as-a-result-of-covid-19-infection
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/young-adults-face-decline-in-respiratory-function-lower-muscle-performance-and-poorer-physical-function-after-covid-19-exposure
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/neurological-effects-of-long-covid-hits-young-adults-harder-than-expected
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/45-3-percent-of-adolescents-after-340-days-still-have-persistent-long-covid-19-symptoms-that-are-different-from-adults
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/japanese-case-study-shows-new-onset-of-schizophrenia-in-adolescent-post-covid-19
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/italian-researchers-unveil-worrisome-endocrinological-involvement-in-children-and-adolescents-affected-by-covid-19
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
 

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