PGE2 and LC Mechanisms
The following Long COVID mechanisms described in the literature¹˒² have direct relationships with PGE2 activity.
Persistent PGE2 upregulation may promote:
- viral persistence and reactivation³
- pro-inflammatory cytokines that stimulate PGE2 production (cytokine storms)⁴⁻⁶
- autoantibodies and class switching⁷⁻⁹, and autoimmunity¹⁰˒¹¹
- thrombotic processes, via EP3¹² and via COX-2¹³/TXA2 production¹⁴
- microbiome disruption¹⁵⁻¹⁷ and bacterial translocation¹⁸
- mitochondrial dysfunction¹⁹⁻²¹
- endothelial dysfunction²²˒²³
- inhibition of serotonin production and secretion²⁴˒²⁵
- autonomic nervous system dysfunction²⁶⁻²⁸
This broad involvement suggests that PGE2 may act upstream of multiple pathways contributing to the heterogeneous manifestations of Long COVID and proposedly related syndromes.
Referenties
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