Mechanizmy COVID-19 a układ odpornościowy i jego starzenie

Abstract

Epidemiological studies concerning the new coronavirus disease called COVID-19 show that elderly and old people are more susceptible to symptomatic, severe course of the disease, and also to death as its consequence. These age groups frequently suffer from associated, aging-related, chronic inflammatory diseases, in the case of COVID-19 described as co-morbidities. This paper describes the mechanisms of infection by SARS-CoV-2 virus and the development of acute COVID-19 and of its chronic form called long COVID, as well as the participation of various components of the immune system in the development and course of  this disease in the context of changing properties (aging) of both the innate and adaptive immunity in the elderly. In particular, the role of two key phenomena occurring in the aging immune system and precipitating or at least facilitating the aging-related diseases including COVID-19, namely the immunosenescence and inflammaging, is discussed.