Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells by interacting its spike protein with surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, expressed in lung and other cell types. Although several risk factors could explain why some countries have lower incidence and fatality rates than others, environmental factors such as diet should be considered. It has been described that countries with high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake have a lower number of COVID-19 victims and a higher rate of recovery from the disease. Moreover, it was found that linoleic acid, an omega-6 PUFA, could stabilize the spike protein in a closed conformation, blocking its interaction with ACE2. These facts prompted us to perform in silico simulations to determine if other PUFA could also stabilize the closed conformation of spike protein and potentially lead to a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found that: (a) countries whose source of omega-3 is from marine origin have lower fatality rates; and (b) like linoleic acid, omega-3 PUFA could also bind to the closed conformation of spike protein and therefore, could help reduce COVID-19 complications by reducing viral entrance to cells, in addition to their known anti-inflammatory effects.
Highlights
Coronaviruses are a diverse group of viruses, characterized by crown-shaped spikes on their surface and have a single-stranded RNA as their genetic material
COVID-19 data f proteins released by infected pneumocytes known as damage-associated these countries show a lower number of victims inflammatory complicati molecular patterns (DAMPs) likely combine withand viral fewer pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) to activate innate immunity
To address the relationship between ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) dietary intakes, we retrieved and used reported intake data worldwide [18] and correlated them with the cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths for each country reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) to 1 December 2020
Summary
Coronaviruses are a diverse group of viruses, characterized by crown-shaped spikes on their surface and have a single-stranded RNA as their genetic material. COVID-19 data f proteins released by infected pneumocytes known as damage-associated these countries show a lower number of victims inflammatory complicati molecular patterns (DAMPs) likely combine withand viral fewer pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) to activate innate immunity [22] This process leads to the activation of with a higher recovery rate from the disease [20]. NF-κB of (nuclear kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B ce mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins, protectins, and maresins, and the synthesis of fewer with inflammatory the consequent decrease in reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines [24] Ana of PUFA dietary intake and its relationship with COVID-19 cases, molecular dock and molecular dynamics studies of S-protein’s predicted complexes and a small libra fatty acids are presented.
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