Consideration that the fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is caused by the cytokine storm, which is an excessive biological defense reaction of the immune system. , Hokkaido University and the research group of the Quantum Technology Research and Development Organization made a presentation.
COVID-2019, which developed in China in December 12 and is now a global pandemic infection, has a high case fatality rate of acute respiratory failure that develops especially when it becomes severe, and there is an urgent need to develop a treatment method. It has become.
According to the latest research, a protein called angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell surface acts as a receptor for infection by the new corona virus, and cells are required for the virus to invade cells. It has become clear that the viral spike protein needs to be treated by the surface proteolytic enzyme TMPRSS2.
Based on these findings and previous studies, the group proposed that ARDS occurring in the late stage of infection may be a cytokine release syndrome (CRS) caused by a cytokine storm, which is an excessive biological reaction.The synergistic action of gene transcription factors NF-kB and STAT3 activates the interleukin 6 (IL-6) amplification circuit (IL-6 amplifier), resulting in a cytokine storm in which inflammatory cytokines increase abnormally. By doing so, ARDS develops.
He also proposed that the IL-6-STAT6 pathway, which plays an important role in IL-3 amplifiers as a therapeutic drug target, is promising.IL-6-STAT6 pathway inhibitors such as anti-IL-3 receptor antibody, which are already used as a treatment for CRS that occurs as a side effect of leukemia treatment, may also treat ARDS found in COVID-19. There is.
Paper information:[Immunity] COVID-19: A New Virus, but a Familiar Receptor and Cytokine Release Syndrome
