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COVID-19 and Thyroid Dysfunction
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COVID-19 and Thyroid Dysfunction

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 8360

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francesca Gorini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: environmental pollution; environmental epidemiology; endocrine disruptors; thyroid diseases; thyroid cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cristina Vassalle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fondazione CNR-Regione Toscana G. Monasterio, Via Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: cardiometabolic risk; cardiometabolic disease; biomarkers; endothelial function; sphingolipids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessio Coi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 56100 Pisa, Italy
Interests: rare diseases; data analysis; birth defects

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Data following the SARS-CoV-2 isolation, the causative virus for the current pandemic, have shown that it is able to localize not only along the airways, but also in other organs and tissues. In particular, there is evidence of direct infection of the thyroid by SARS-CoV-2, as the receptor ACE2 by which the virus enters the cells, is highly expressed in thyroid follicular cells. Accordingly, data on the possible links between COVID-19 and thyroid dysfunction have been increasing in the past year. An important aspect in this relationship is the ability of the virus to trigger direct inflammatory damage to the thyroid through the occurrence of a "cytokine storm".

Moreover, the number of drugs proposed and tested for COVID-19 treatment raises questions about potential drug-drug interactions, as some of them may interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary thyroid axis. In contrast, the use of thyroid hormones is currently being evaluated in critically ill COVID-19 infected patients requiring mechanical respiratory support or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation, for their ability to adapt injured tissue to hypoxic conditions (e.g., through p38 MAPK, and Akt signaling pathways).

Within this Special Issue, preclinical, clinical and epidemiological studies, as well as reviews are invited, focused on prevalence data, pathophysiological mechanisms, biomarkers and pharmacological strategies relevant in the relationship between thyroid and COVID-19.

Dr. Francesca Gorini
Dr. Cristina Vassalle
Dr. Alessio Coi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • thyroid gland
  • hypothyroidism
  • hyperthyroidism
  • thyroid dysfunction
  • thyroid hormones
  • biomarkers
  • pathophysiology
  • thyroid therapies

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

21 pages, 1072 KiB  
Review
A Literature Review on SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses in Thyroid Disorders: Environmental Triggers or No-Guilty Bystanders?
by Francesca Gorini and Cristina Vassalle
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2389; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20032389 - 29 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2172
Abstract
A growing number of findings indicate a relationship between COVID-19 infection and thyroid dysfunction. This association is also strengthened by knowledge on the potential of viral infections to trigger thyroid disorders, although the exact underlying pathogenetic process remains to be elucidated. This review [...] Read more.
A growing number of findings indicate a relationship between COVID-19 infection and thyroid dysfunction. This association is also strengthened by knowledge on the potential of viral infections to trigger thyroid disorders, although the exact underlying pathogenetic process remains to be elucidated. This review aimed to describe the available data regarding the possible role of infectious agents, and in particular of SARS-CoV-2, in the development of thyroid disorders, summarizing the proposed mechanisms and levels of evidence (epidemiological, serological or direct presence of the viruses in the thyroid gland) by which the infection could be responsible for thyroid abnormalities/diseases. Novel data on the association and mechanisms involved between SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and thyroid diseases are also discussed. While demonstrating a clear causal link is challenging, numerous clues at molecular and cellular levels and the large amount of epidemiological data suggest the existence of this relationship. Further studies should be taken to further investigate the true nature and strength of this association, to help in planning future preventive and therapeutic strategies for more personal and targeted care with attention to the underlying causes of thyroid dysfunction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 and Thyroid Dysfunction)
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13 pages, 869 KiB  
Review
The Potential of Thyroid Hormone Therapy in Severe COVID-19: Rationale and Preliminary Evidence
by Iordanis Mourouzis, Vassiliki Apostolaki, Athanasios Trikas, Leonidas Kokkinos, Natassa Alexandrou, Maria Avdikou, Myrto Giannoulopoulou, Aimilia Vassi, Ioulia Tseti and Constantinos Pantos
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8063; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19138063 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1914
Abstract
Tissue hypoxia is one of the main pathophysiologic mechanisms in sepsis and particularly in COVID-19. Microvascular dysfunction, endothelialitis and alterations in red blood cell hemorheology are all implicated in severe COVID-19 hypoxia and multiorgan dysfunction. Tissue hypoxia results in tissue injury and remodeling [...] Read more.
Tissue hypoxia is one of the main pathophysiologic mechanisms in sepsis and particularly in COVID-19. Microvascular dysfunction, endothelialitis and alterations in red blood cell hemorheology are all implicated in severe COVID-19 hypoxia and multiorgan dysfunction. Tissue hypoxia results in tissue injury and remodeling with re-emergence of fetal programming via hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1a)-dependent and -independent pathways. In this context, thyroid hormone (TH), a critical regulator of organ maturation, may be of relevance in preventing fetal-like hypoxia-induced remodeling in COVID-19 sepsis. Acute triiodothyronine (T3) treatment can prevent cardiac remodeling and improve recovery of function in clinical settings of hypoxic injury as acute myocardial infarction and by-pass cardiac surgery. Furthermore, T3 administration prevents tissue hypoxia in experimental sepsis. On the basis of this evidence, the use of T3 treatment was proposed for ICU (Intensive Care Unit) COVID-19 patients (Thy-Support, NCT04348513). The rationale for T3 therapy in severe COVID-19 and preliminary experimental and clinical evidence are discussed in this review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 and Thyroid Dysfunction)
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24 pages, 1196 KiB  
Review
Thyroid Dysfunction and COVID-19: The Emerging Role of Selenium in This Intermingled Relationship
by Francesca Gorini, Laura Sabatino, Alessio Coi, Giorgio Iervasi and Cristina Vassalle
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6912; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116912 - 05 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3536
Abstract
COVID-19 represents a worldwide public health emergency, and, beyond the respiratory symptoms characterizing the classic viral disease, growing evidence has highlighted a possible reciprocal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and thyroid dysfunction. The updated data discussed in this review suggests a role of SARS-CoV-2 [...] Read more.
COVID-19 represents a worldwide public health emergency, and, beyond the respiratory symptoms characterizing the classic viral disease, growing evidence has highlighted a possible reciprocal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and thyroid dysfunction. The updated data discussed in this review suggests a role of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the thyroid gland, with multiple thyroid pictures described. Conversely, no conclusion can be drawn on the association between pre-existing thyroid disease and increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this scenario, selenium (Se), an essential trace element critical for thyroid function and known as an effective agent against viral infections, is emerging as a potential novel therapeutic option for the treatment of COVID-19. Large multicentre cohort studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying thyroid dysfunction during or following recovery from COVID-19, including Se status. Meanwhile, clinical trials should be performed to evaluate whether adequate intake of Se can help address COVID-19 in Se-deficient patients, also avoiding thyroid complications that can contribute to worsening outcomes during infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue COVID-19 and Thyroid Dysfunction)
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