nam 22 uu 4500 dbt_mods_00068676 10.22032/dbt.68676 doi dbt_mods_00068676 ger DE-601 rda ger 610 sdnb 796 sdnb Haunhorst, Simon Author aut (DE-588)1299785573 A conceptualization of key pathophysiological mechanisms of Post-COVID Condition and their contribution to a potential interference between post-acute infection and exercise regulation Haunhorst, Simon Jena 2025 141 Seiten text txt rdacontent Computermedien c rdamedia Online-Ressource cr rdacarrier Dissertation, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, 2025 The body’s internal milieu is regulated by interacting effector systems that aim to maintain steady states amid perturbations of homeostatic set-points. From an integrative physiology perspective, evolutionary conserved stressors, including infections and physical activity, challenge homeostasis and induce compensatory regulatory responses. In late 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged as the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which can manifest with multi-systemic post-acute sequelae. Post-COVID Condition (PCC) refers to symptoms that persist for at least three months after infection, including fatigue, cognitive impairments, dyspnea, exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate key pathophysiological mechanisms of PCC and their contribution to a potential interference between post-acute infection and exercise regulation. Three comprehensive reviews of the existing literature focusing on specific entities of PCC pathophysiology were conducted. The synthesis revealed heterogenous processes underlying multi-systemic manifestations. Physical activity-related symptoms are associated with reduced aerobic capacity and impaired peripheral oxygen extraction and utilization. Microvascular alterations, erythrocyte morpho-functional changes, micro clots and impaired vascular flow-mediated dilation may compromise tissue perfusion and oxygen transport. Beyond that, mitochondrial dysfunction and a dysregulated immune system, including continued immune activation, persistent viral antigen, autoimmunity and T cell exhaustion, was identified as a central driver. Collectively, PCC is characterized by a failure to return to homeostatic conditions, resulting in continued infection regulation that interferes with physiological adaptations to physical activity and contributes to symptom exacerbation. Post-COVID-19-Syndrom gnd Virusinfektion gnd Symptom gnd Pathophysiologie gnd Entzündung gnd Regulationsstörung gnd Stoffwechsel gnd thesis Puta, Christian Reviewer rev (DE-588)135558379 Engert, Veronika Reviewer rev (DE-588)132781174 Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Fakultät für Sozial- und Verhaltenswissenschaften host institution his https://www.db-thueringen.de/receive/dbt_mods_00068676 object in context https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00070070/Dissertation_SimonHaunhorst_2025.pdf raw object https://www.db-thueringen.de/rsc/thumbnail/dbt_mods_00068676.png preview http://uri.gbv.de/document/gvk:ppn:1947752146 uri