Open AccessImmunity, parasites, genetics and sex hormones: contributors to mild inflammatory responses in COVID-19?
Author(s) -
Samuel Munalula Munjita,
Mulemba Tillika Samutela,
Kunda Ndashe,
Sody Munsaka
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.23267
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , covid-19 , pandemic , hormone , immunity , disease , perspective (graphical) , biology , coronavirus , medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , artificial intelligence , computer science
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has killed over two hundred thousand people by end of April, 2020. America and Europe top in deaths from COVID-19 whereas the numbers are lower in Africa for unclear reasons. Emerging evidence suggests the role of hyperactive immune responses characterised by high pro-inflammatory cytokines in severe cases of COVID-19 and deaths. In this perspective, we explore the possible factors that may contribute to mild inflammatory responses in some cases of COVID-19 by focusing on immune education, parasites, sex hormones and chronic diseases, as well as genetic tolerance. To build our perspective, evidence is also extracted from wild rodents due to their multi-tasking immune responses as a result of constant exposure to pathogens.