Inflamm-aging: Why older men are the most susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 complicated outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is characterized by a high mortality of elderly men with age-related comorbidities. In most of these patients, uncontrolled local and systemic hyperinflammation induces severe and often lethal outcomes. The aging process is characterized by the gradual development of a chronic subclinical systemic inflammation (inflamm-aging) and by acquired immune system impairment (immune senescence). Here, we advance the hypothesis that four well-recognized features of aging contribute to the disproportionate SARS-CoV-2 mortality suffered by elderly men: i. the presence of subclinical systemic inflammation without overt disease, ii. a blunted acquired immune system and type I interferon response due to the chronic inflammation; iii.

SUBMITTER: Bonafe M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7252014 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature