Altered immunoemotional regulatory system in COVID-19: From the origins to opportunities

Abstract

The emergence of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the worldwide spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have led to social regulations that caused substantial changes in daily life. The subsequent loneliness and concerns of the pandemic during social distancing, quarantine, and lockdown are psychosocial stressors that negatively affect the immune system. These effects occur through mechanisms controlled by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis that alter immune regulation, namely the conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA), which promotes inflammation and diminishes antiviral responses, leading to inadequate protection against viral disease. Unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, sleep disturbances, and mental health consequences of COVID-19 add to the pathological effects of loneliness, making immunity against this lethal virus an even tougher fight. Therefore, social isolation, with its unintended consequences, has inherently paradoxical effects on immunity in relation to viral disease. Though this paradox can present a challenge, its acknowledgment can serve as an opportunity to address the associated issues and find ways to mitigate the adverse effects. In this review, we aim to explore, in detail, the pathological effects of the new social norms on immunity and present suggested methods to improve our physical, psychological, and healthcare abilities to fight a viral infection in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A systematic review and clinical atlas on mucocutaneous presentations of the current monkeypox outbreak: With a comprehensive approach to all dermatologic and nondermatologic aspects of the new and previous monkeypox outbreaks

“…The main causes of concern are the virus' sources, pathways of transmission, 2,5 characteristics of skin eruptions and constitutional symptoms, treatments, ways to prevent infection or possible vaccination. These concerns coalesce with the general remaining anxiety after the global COVID‐19 pandemic, 15–19 where concerns about the long term sequelae of a COVID infection, 20–22 its treatment, 23,24 effect of other medication on COVID, 25 in addition to its vaccination and side effects 26 are still prominently present among medical professionals and general population. Experts around the world are trying to use the lessons learned during the COVID pandemic to be more prepared for this new Monkeypox outbreak 27–29 …”

Occupational Stress-Related Sleep Anomaly in Frontline COVID-19 Health Workers: The Possible Underlying Mechanisms

“…One of the more interesting aspects of Covid19 is the heightened anxiety and emotional responses associated with the changes in psychosocial interactions imposed by the Covid19 pandemic. Such emotional imbalances, therefore, have similar effects on the HPA axis and melatonin as exposure to the virus, thereby creating a potential to augment and exacerbate the effects of Covid19 [64].…”

Monkeypox: A real new warning or just a sign of times?

“…[ 14 ] Moreover, another possible blameworthy factor could be the 2-years preceded COVID-19 pandemic; social isolation and lockdowns, may have led to lower individual immunity to infectious agents, although this has to be furtherly proved. [ 15 ] In addition to that, COVID-19 lifestyle restrictions may have driven humans to the increased need for socializing and international travelling that were generally deprived during the pandemic.…”