SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on body elasticity

Fanny Trifilieff: What do you mean by "elasticity" in the human body?

Pascal Sommer: The human body is designed to move. Movement is made possible by elasticity, i.e. the ability of the body's various organs and tissues to return to their original shape after undergoing deformation. For example, it is elasticity that enables the walls of the lungs and arteries to inflate and deflate during breathing. The two main components responsible for elasticity are collagen fibers, which provide structure and rigidity, and elastic fibers. Loss of elasticity is one of the causes of many pathologies, and can be a factor in their aggravation.

F.T: How did you make the link between SARS-Cov2 and elasticity?

P.S: Thanks to their elasticity, arteries play an active and complementary role to the heart in propelling blood and thus regulating blood pressure. When the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters cells, it attaches itself to a very specific receptor: ACE2. This is involved in the regulation of certain cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal functions, as well as blood pressure. This raises the question of a possible direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 on blood pressure. The link becomes even more obvious when we compare what the virus does to the human body, and what an elastin deficiency does to it. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to inflammation of the lungs and the development of fibrosis, i.e. the formation of scar tissue in the lungs. They harden and lead to respiratory problems, the same problems found in these elastin-deficient people. There are also vascular effects, with changes to artery and vein walls leading to thrombosis. So we can see that the virus tends to act on elastin-rich tissues.

F.T: What impact is this research having in the fight against Covid?

P.S: More and more studies are reporting long-lasting Covid with sequelae in patients. Understanding how blood pressure is regulated could enable us to act on the chronic effects of the infection on certain organs and bodily functions. The working hypothesis is that the more elastin the body contains, the better it will be able to regulate its blood pressure, cope with the virus and repair itself after the infection has passed. This is an important hypothesis, since the body's elastic capital at the end of growth diminishes as it ages. This research is also helping to detect possible susceptibilities in so-called "at-risk" populations, such as people with high blood pressure or deficiencies. Gradually, all this could lead to the implementation of specific care and support protocols in the context of the epidemic.