Molecular mechanisms of intestinal damage in COVID-19 (literature review)

Abstract

Many patients with COVID-19 have gastrointestinal symptoms and diarrhea is of the most common ones. To date, there is no consensus about the mechanisms of COVID-19-associated intestinal damage. The following can be considered as the most probable ones: increased expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in enterocytes; disruption of autophagy mechanisms; pathological changes in gut microbiota; development of side effects of antiviral and antibacterial drugs. This review provides a systematic review of the molecular mechanisms of gastrointestinal damage, including the development of diarrheal syndrome in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords

• covid-19
• sars-cov-2
• molecular mechanisms
• gut
• diarrhea
• biomarkers