The role of the thymus in COVID-19 disease severity: implications for antibody treatment and immunization.
Hum Vaccin Immunother
; 17(3): 638-643, 2021 03 04.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-872898
ABSTRACT
The thymus is a largely neglected organ but plays a significant role in the regulation of adaptive immune responses. The effect of aging on the thymus and immune senescence is well established, and the resulting inflammaging is found to be implicated in the development of many chronic diseases including atherosclerosis, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Both aging and diseases of inflammaging are associated with severe COVID-19 disease, and a dysfunctional thymus may be a predisposing factor. In addition, insults on the thymus during childhood may lead to abnormal thymic function and may explain severe COVID-19 disease among younger individuals; therefore, measurement of thymic function may assist COVID-19 care. Those with poor thymic function may be treated prophylactically with convalescent serum or recombinant antibodies, and they may respond better to high-dose or adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccines. Treatments inducing thymic regeneration may improve patients' overall health and may be incorporated in COVID-19 management.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thymus Gland
/
COVID-19
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
/
Antibodies
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Hum Vaccin Immunother
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
21645515.2020.1818519
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