Some viruses are known to be associated with increased apoptosis. Apoptotic cell death triggered by these viruses has a complex role in host antiviral immunity, and might facilitate the viral clearance or act as a mechanism for virus-induced tissue injury and disease progression. The induction of apoptosis is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Accumulating evidence suggests that there is a direct relationship between apoptosis rate and COVID-19 pathogenicity/severity. Targeting virus-induced apoptosis could be a promising strategy in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.
Ahmed Donia, Habib Bokhari. Apoptosis induced by SARS-CoV-2: can we target it? Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death. 2021 Feb;26(1-2):7-8
PMID: 33512610
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