How COVID-19 Turns Gene Regulation Into Cytokine Storm
SARS-CoV-2 can weaken the early antiviral response by suppressing IRF3 signaling. When this happens in a genetically altered regulatory context involving LZTFL1 and VDR, epithelial cells may lose stability: cilia function is impaired, the airway barrier weakens, and viral persistence increases.
The result is not just inflammation — it is a self-amplifying regulatory failure. Multiple feedback loops can push the immune system across a threshold into cytokine storm and severe systemic complications.
This Short explains how gene regulation, epithelial biology, and immune signaling connect in severe COVID-19.
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