COVID-19 is a pandemic respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The worldwide epidemiologic data showed higher mortality in males compared to females, suggesting a hypothesis about the protective effect of estrogens against severe disease progression with the ultimate end being patient's death. This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding the potential effect of estrogens and other modulators of estrogen receptors on COVID-19. While estrogen receptor activation shows complex effects on the patient's organism, such as an influence on the cardiovascular/pulmonary/immune system which includes lower production of cytokines responsible for the cytokine storm, the receptor-independent effects directly inhibits viral replication. Furthermore, it inhibits the interaction of IL-6 with its receptor complex. Interestingly, in addition to natural hormones, phytestrogens and even synthetic molecules are able to interact with the estrogen receptor and exhibit some anti-COVID-19 activity. From this point of view, estrogen receptor modulators have the potential to be included in the anti-COVID-19 therapeutic arsenal.

BIOCEV 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University 252 50 Vestec Czech Republic

BIOCEV Faculty of Sciences Charles University 252 50 Vestec Czech Republic

Department of Dermatovenereology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital 120 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Neurology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University 120 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Oncology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital 120 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital 120 00 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Anatomy 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University 120 00 Prague Czech Republic

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