Melatonin and asymptomatic carriers
The production of melatonin by the lungs turned out to be a natural barrier against SARS-CoV-2
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
Scientists have discovered that the hormone melatonin produced in the lungs prevents infection with SARS-CoV-2 by blocking the entry points of the virus through the respiratory tract into the lungs. Therefore, in people with normal melatonin production, the result on COVID-19 may be positive, and symptoms and ailments do not develop.
Experiments have shown that melatonin produced in the lungs blocks the expression of genes that encode proteins in cells that serve as entry points into the body for SARS-CoV-2, writes EurekAlert. As a result of this mechanism, the hormone prevents infection of cells with coronavirus and suppresses the immune response, so that SARS-CoV-2 remains in the respiratory tract for several days, and then moves to another host, the authors explain from University of Sao Paulo.
Article by Fernandes et al. Melatonin-Index as a biomarker for predicting the distribution of presymptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers is published in the journal Melatonin Research – VM.
This discovery, in their opinion, will explain the asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, even if the diagnosis is accurately established using the PCR method.
"A similar mechanism of action of pulmonary melatonin should also extend to other respiratory viruses, including influenza," says study author Regina Pekelmann.
Earlier, scientists came to the conclusion that melatonin produced in the lungs changes the entry points for solid particles from polluted air. In previous experiments, they blocked the synthesis of the hormone and found that in rodents, inhaled solid particles spread throughout the body and even penetrated into the brain. Now they have done similar experiments for SARS-CoV-2.
Analyzing samples from the lungs of healthy people, the scientists saw that the lower the ability to synthesize melatonin, the higher the level of expression of genes involved in the penetration of the virus into the body. And vice versa: a high melatonin index blocked the entry points of the virus into the lungs.
Currently, the team is considering the prospects of nasal administration of melatonin in drops or in the form of a spray to prevent the development of the disease. In addition, they are exploring the possibility of using melatonin indicators to identify asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2.
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