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Review
. 2020 Nov 5:886:173457.
doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173457. Epub 2020 Aug 1.

An overview of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in severe cases of COVID-19 infection, and the proposal of salicyl-carnosine as a potential drug for its treatment

Alexander V Lopachev  1 , Rogneda B Kazanskaya  2 , Anastasiya V Khutorova  3 , Tatiana N Fedorova  4
Affiliations
Review

An overview of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in severe cases of COVID-19 infection, and the proposal of salicyl-carnosine as a potential drug for its treatment

Alexander V Lopachev et al. Eur J Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Multiple organ failure in COVID-19 patients is a serious problem which can result in a fatal outcome. Damage to organs and tissues, including general lung dysfunction, develops as a consequence of ischemia, which, in turn, is caused by thrombosis in small blood vessels and hypoxia, leading to oxidative stress and inflammation. Currently, research is underway to screen existing drugs for antioxidant, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory properties. Having studied the available publications concerning the mechanisms of damage to tissues and organs of patients with COVID-19, as well as the available treatment strategies, we propose to investigate salicyl-carnosine as a potential drug for treating COVID-19 patients. In a recent study, we described the drug's synthesis procedure, and showed that salicyl-carnosine possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet effects. Therefore, it can simultaneously act on the three pathogenetic factors involved in tissue and organ damage in COVID-19. Thus, we propose to consider salicyl-carnosine as a potential drug for the treatment of patients with severe cases of COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Aspirin; COVID-19; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Salicyl-carnosine; Thrombosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An overview of the processes discussed in this review, the sum of which leads to secondary tissue damage during a COVID-19 infection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A diagram of inflammation development during the course of a COVID-19 infection. Blue arrows represent positive regulation between the interacting elements, red arrows ending in a dash represent negative regulation, or drug action.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A diagram of processes leading to oxidative stress and tissue damage during a COVID-19 infection. Blue arrows represent positive regulation between the interacting elements, red arrows ending in a dash represent negative regulation, or drug action.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A diagram of processes leading to thrombosis and thrombocytopenia during a COVID-19 infection. Blue arrows represent positive regulation between the interacting elements, red arrows ending in a dash represent negative regulation, or drug action. Greyed out arrows represent processes which are inhibited by COVID-19.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A comparison of the actions of salicyl-carnosine and aspirin on factors of tissue damage during a COVID-19 infection, as well as a comparison of the presence or lack of negative side effects. Data acquired and published by our laboratory is represented with solid arrows, data found in literature - by dashed arrows.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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