Mechanisms of gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction in COVID-19 patients

World J Gastroenterol. 2023 Apr 21;29(15):2283-2293. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i15.2283.ABSTRACTCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a major global public health event, resulting in a significant social and economic burden. Although COVID-19 was initially characterized as an upper respiratory and pulmonary infection, recent evidence suggests that it is a complex disease including gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Moreover, it remains unclear whether the gastrointestinal symptoms are caused by direct infection of the gastrointestinal tract by SARS-CoV-2 or are the result of systemic immune activation and subsequent dysregulation of homeostatic mechanisms. This review provides a brief overview of the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 disrupts the integrity of the gastrointestinal barrier including the mechanical barrier, chemical barrier, microbial barrier, and immune barrier.PMID:37124884 | PMC:PMC10134419 | DOI:10.3748/wjg.v29.i15.2283
Source: World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research