Resveratrol as an Adjunctive Therapy for Excessive Oxidative Stress in Aging COVID-19 Patients
Min-Tser Liao,
Chia-Chao Wu,
Shu-Fang Vivienne Wu,
Mei-Chen Lee,
Wan-Chung Hu,
Kuo-Wang Tsai,
Chung-Hsiang Yang,
Chien-Lin Lu,
Sheng-Kang Chiu,
Kuo-Cheng Lu
Affiliations
Min-Tser Liao
Department of Pediatrics, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan City 325, Taiwan
Chia-Chao Wu
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan
Shu-Fang Vivienne Wu
School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Mei-Chen Lee
School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Wan-Chung Hu
Department of Medical Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
Kuo-Wang Tsai
Department of Medical Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
Chung-Hsiang Yang
Department of Pediatrics, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan City 325, Taiwan
Chien-Lin Lu
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 24352, Taiwan
Sheng-Kang Chiu
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
Kuo-Cheng Lu
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to burden healthcare systems worldwide. COVID-19 symptoms are highly heterogeneous, and the patient may be asymptomatic or may present with mild to severe or fatal symptoms. Factors, such as age, sex, and comorbidities, are key determinants of illness severity and progression. Aging is accompanied by multiple deficiencies in interferon production by dendritic cells or macrophages in response to viral infections, resulting in dysregulation of inflammatory immune responses and excess oxidative stress. Age-related dysregulation of immune function may cause a more obvious pathophysiological response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly patients and may accelerate the risk of biological aging, even after recovery. For more favorable treatment outcomes, inhibiting viral replication and dampening inflammatory and oxidative responses before induction of an overt cytokine storm is crucial. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant with antiviral activity. Herein, we describe the reasons for impaired interferon production, owing to aging, and the impact of aging on innate and adaptive immune responses to infection, which leads to inflammation distress and immunosuppression, thereby causing fulminant disease. Additionally, the molecular mechanism by which resveratrol could reverse a state of excessive basal inflammatory and oxidative stress and low antiviral immunity is discussed.