Possible new therapeutic approach for seriously ill men with Covid-19

22.08.2023 12:29

On August 11, 2023, an international research team led by virologist Professor Gülşah Gabriel from the Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV) and the Hannover University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation (TiHo) published a groundbreaking interdisciplinary study. In close collaboration with the University of Siena and other national and international research institutes and clinics, in this study they identified the enzyme aromatase (CYP19A1) as an important factor for severe Covid-19 courses in men. They published the research results in the renowned journal Cell Reports Medicine.

Retrospective analyzes of epidemiological data have repeatedly shown that Covid-19 mortality is higher in men compared to women. However, the causes of the observed gender differences in Covid-19 were largely unknown.

Now an international team of researchers has analyzed genetic data from 2,866 Covid-19 patients and identified a mutation in the CYP19A1 gene that is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization in male patients. The gene produces the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible, among other things, for the metabolism of testosterone. Lung samples from deceased Covid-19 patients also showed increased activity of the CYP19A1 gene in male patients compared to female patients. These findings suggest that this gene influences the gender-specific manifestations of Covid-19 disease.

“This collaboration shows that genetic studies are important to improve our understanding of the molecular causes of viral diseases and their treatments,” explains Professor Alessandra Renieri from the University of Siena, who established the Covid-19 genetic cohort.

Preclinical experiments in animal models confirmed these observations. Treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected animals with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole improved long-term lung function and helped restore hormonal balance, particularly in male animals. This suggests that aromatase inhibitors could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the individual treatment of male Covid-19 patients.

Professor Gülşah Gabriel underlines the enormous importance of international and interdisciplinary collaboration and emphasizes: “The results of our collaborative study could provide important information for new individualized treatment strategies against Covid-19.”