TITLE:
Mitochondrial Organelle Transplantation Is a Potential Therapeutic for Mitochondria Dysfunction in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus Diseases
AUTHORS:
Catherine C. Baucom, Xian-Peng Jiang
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Mitochondrial Organelle Transplantation, Lung Repair
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.11 No.3,
September
16,
2021
ABSTRACT: COVID-19 severe symptoms and high mortality are mainly seen in elders with age-associated diseases who have mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a vulnerability and comorbidity of COVID-19. Cytokine storm, and increased serum iron and ferritin and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in COVID-19 further damage mitochondria. Amelioration of mitochondrial dysfunction may be a strategy of prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We also describe mitochondrial organelle transplantation (MOT) which has restored mitochondrial function, improved the repair of injured tissues and suppressed hyperinflammation in life-threatening sepsis. MOT is a potential therapy for severe COVID-19. Finally, we report the first case of MOT for a severe COVID-19 patient. MOT is safe and might have beneficial effect on the severe COVID-19.