Susceptibility to COVID-19 in populations with health disparities: Posited involvement of mitochondrial disorder, socioeconomic stress, and pollutants

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel betacoronavirus that has caused the global health crisis known as COVID-19. The implications of mitochondrial dysfunction with COVID-19 are discussed as well as deregulated mitochondria and inter-organelle functions as a posited comorbidity enhancing detrimental outcomes. Many environmental chemicals (ECs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals can do damage to mitochondria and cause mitochondrial dysfunction. During infection, SARS-CoV-2 via its binding target ACE2 and TMPRSS2 can disrupt mitochondrial function. Viral genomic RNA and structural proteins may also affect the normal function of the mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi apparatus. Drugs considered for treatment of COVID-19 should consider effects on organelles including mitochondria functions. Mitochondrial self-balance and clearance via mitophagy are important in SARS-CoV-2 infection, which indicate monitoring and protection of mitochondria against SARS-CoV-2 are important. Mitochondrial metabolomic analysis may provide new indicators of COVID-19 prognosis. A better understanding of the role of mitochondria during SARS-CoV-2 infection may help to improve intervention therapies and better protect mitochondrial disease patients from pathogens as well as people living with poor nutrition and elevated levels of socioeconomic stress and ECs.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; dysfunction; exposome; immunosenescence; metabolomics; mitochondria; pollutant; socioeconomic; stress.