ABSTRACT
The current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, which causes COVID-19, is particularly devastating for individuals with chronic medical conditions, in particular those with Down Syndrome (DS) who often exhibit a higher prevalence of respiratory tract infections, immune dysregulation and potential complications. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is much higher in DS than in the general population, possibly increasing further the risk of COVID-19 infection and its complications. Here we provide a biological overview with regard to specific susceptibility of individuals with DS to SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as data from a recent survey on the prevalence of COVID-19 among them. We see an urgent need to protect people with DS, especially those with AD, from COVID-19 and future pandemics and focus on developing protective measures, which also include interventions by health systems worldwide for reducing the negative social effects of long-term isolation and increased periods of hospitalization.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/virology , Disease Susceptibility , Down Syndrome/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Alzheimer Disease/complications , Alzheimer Disease/epidemiology , Alzheimer Disease/immunology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology , Comorbidity , Disease Susceptibility/immunology , Disease Susceptibility/virology , Down Syndrome/complications , Down Syndrome/immunology , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Immune System/abnormalities , Incidence , Male , Pandemics/prevention & control , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Vaccination/methodsSubject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/immunology , Research , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Brain/pathology , HumansSubject(s)
Aging , Alzheimer Disease/immunology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/immunology , Dementia/immunology , Inflammation/virology , Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/complications , Brain/immunology , Brain/metabolism , Butyrylcholinesterase/metabolism , Cholinergic Agents/metabolism , Cytokines/blood , Cytokines/metabolism , Dementia/complications , Humans , Immunity, Innate , Neuroimmunomodulation , T-Lymphocytes/immunologyABSTRACT
Neprilysin (NEP) is an integral membrane-bound metallopeptidase with a wide spectrum of substrates and physiological functions. It plays an important role in proteolytic processes in the kidney, cardiovascular regulation, immune response, cell proliferation, foetal development etc. It is an important neuropeptidase and amyloid-degrading enzyme which makes NEP a therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, it plays a preventive role in development of cancer, obesity and type-2 diabetes. Recently a role of NEP in COVID-19 pathogenesis has also been suggested. Despite intensive research into NEP structure and functions in different organisms, changes in its expression and regulation during brain development and ageing, especially in age-related pathologies, is still not fully understood. This prevents development of pharmacological treatments from various diseases in which NEP is implicated although recently a dual-acting drug sacubitril-valsartan (LCZ696) combining a NEP inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker has been approved for treatment of heart failure. Also, various natural compounds capable of upregulating NEP expression, including green tea (EGCG), have been proposed as a preventive medicine in prostate cancer and AD. This review summarizes the existing literature and our own research on the expression and activity of NEP in normal brain development, ageing and under pathological conditions.