Inflammation is a defense mechanism of the body to fight pathogens. However, when it is widespread and excessive, it can aggravate the pathology and even cause death.
One of the ways in which this excessive response occurs is called a cytokine storm, an inflammatory process produced by these proteins, cytokines, which send a signal that triggers the immune system.
In a new study from the National Cancer Research Centre, researchers found a hierarchical list of compounds that could potentially reduce mortality in the most serious COVID patients based on their power to halt this chemical storm.
Their use could also be extended to other pathologies in which this inflammatory phenomenon also occurs.
Respiratory failure associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the leading cause of death from COVID-19.
But an accumulation of evidence shows that lethality in a subgroup of severe patients occurs due to the late appearance of an inflammatory cytokine storm.
In order to find “antidotes,” the researchers identified changes in gene expression in lung cells from SARS-CoV-2 patients dying as the result of a cytokine storm from past research.
The aim was to identify potential “antidotes,” compounds that induce opposing changes in the expression of genes to those seen in patients with COVID-19.
To their surprise, the researchers identified—and subsequently validated in vitro- that MEK protein inhibitors, commonly used in cancer treatments, had a strong anti-inflammatory effect.
The researchers emphasize that, in any case, any anti-inflammatory drug-based therapy—including glucocorticoids—should be restricted to the late and severe phases of COVID-19.
This is because the use of anti-inflammatory therapies in the early stages of the disease would limit the effectiveness of the immune system in its fight against infection.
Another important aspect is that all the analyses conducted as part of the study converged to indicate that female hormone could help to fight the cytokine storm, which might explain why men tend to get more serious forms of COVID.
Finally, in addition to predicting drugs that could combat the cytokine storm, the paper also reports compounds that could potentially aggravate this pathology.
As might be expected, this list includes drugs that either activate the immune system or enhance inflammation.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about new drug that could prevent COVID-19,
and two paths toward ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about antibodies that can neutralize Omicron, and results showing this drug treatment may prevent COVID death and lung damage.
The study is published in Scientific Reports and was conducted by Óscar Fernández-Capetillo et al.
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