Abstract | AIMS: SARS-CoV-2 causes severe respiratory syndrome (COVID-19) with high mortality due to a direct cytotoxic viral effect and a severe systemic inflammation. We are herein discussing a possible novel therapeutic tool for COVID-19. METHODS: Virus binds to the cell surface receptor ACE2; indeed, recent evidences suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may be using as co-receptor, when entering the cells, the same one used by MERS-Co-V, namely the DPP4/CD26 receptor. The aforementioned observation underlined that mechanism of cell entry is supposedly similar among different coronavirus, that the co-expression of ACE2 and DPP4/CD26 could identify those cells targeted by different human coronaviruses and that clinical complications may be similar. RESULTS: The DPP4 family/system was implicated in various physiological processes and diseases of the immune system, and DPP4/CD26 is variously expressed on epithelia and endothelia of the systemic vasculature, lung, kidney, small intestine and heart. In particular, DPP4 distribution in the human respiratory tract may facilitate the entrance of the virus into the airway tract itself and could contribute to the development of cytokine storm and immunopathology in causing fatal COVID-19 pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS:
|
Authors | Sebastiano Bruno Solerte, Antonio Di Sabatino, Massimo Galli, Paolo Fiorina |
Journal | Acta diabetologica
(Acta Diabetol)
Vol. 57
Issue 7
Pg. 779-783
(Jul 2020)
ISSN: 1432-5233 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 32506195
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
|
Chemical References |
- Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
- Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
|
Topics |
- Betacoronavirus
- COVID-19
- Coronavirus Infections
(drug therapy, enzymology)
- Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors
(pharmacology)
- Humans
- Lung
(metabolism)
- Pandemics
- Pneumonia, Viral
(drug therapy, enzymology)
- SARS-CoV-2
|