Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomédecine & pharmacothérapie
-
Biomed. Pharmacother. · Nov 2020
ReviewACE2, TMPRSS2 distribution and extrapulmonary organ injury in patients with COVID-19.
At the end of 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in China. Currently, it is breaking out globally and posing a serious threat to public health. The typically clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients were fever and respiratory symptoms, and a proportion of patients were accompanied by extrapulmonary symptoms including cardiac injury, kidney injury, liver injury, digestive tract injury, and neurological symptoms. ⋯ SARS-CoV-2 may have a capacity to infect extrapulmonary organs due to the expressions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the cells and tissues of these organs. It seems that there is a potential involvement of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expressions in the virus infection of extrapulmonary organs and the manifestation of symptoms related to these organs in patients with COVID-19. Here, we revealed the expressions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in extrapulmonary organs, and we also summarized the clinical manifestation and the management of extrapulmonary complications in patients with COVID-19.
-
Biomed. Pharmacother. · Nov 2020
ReviewMacrophages in pancreatitis: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential.
Macrophages play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis that is a common gastrointestinal disease. Particularly, macrophages differentiate into different phenotypes and exert diverse functions in acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), respectively. In AP, macrophages in the pancreas and other related organs are mainly activated and differentiated into a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and furthermore secrete inflammatory cytokines and mediators, causing local inflammation of the pancreas, and even intractable systemic inflammatory response or multiple organ failure. ⋯ The discovery of macrophages in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis has promoted the research of targeted drugs, which provides great potential for the effective treatment of pancreatitis. This paper provides an overview of the roles of various macrophages in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and the current research status of pancreatitis immunotherapy targeting macrophages. The findings addressed in this review are of considerable significance for understanding the pivotal role of macrophages in pancreatitis.
-
Biomed. Pharmacother. · Oct 2020
ReviewTargeting SARS-CoV2 Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain by Therapeutic Antibodies.
As the number of people infected with the newly identified 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) is continuously increasing every day, development of potential therapeutic platforms is vital. Based on the comparatively high similarity of receptor-binding domain (RBD) in SARS-CoV2 and SARS-CoV, it seems crucial to assay the cross-reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with SARS-CoV2 spike (S)-protein. Indeed, developing mAbs targeting SARS-CoV2 S-protein RBD could show novel applications for rapid and sensitive development of potential epitope-specific vaccines (ESV). ⋯ Afterwards, the mechanism of interaction of RBD and different mAbs were explained and it was suggested that one of the SARS-CoV-specific human mAbs, namely CR3022, could show the highest binding affinity with SARS-CoV2 S-protein RBD. Finally, some ongoing challenges and future prospects for rapid and sensitive advancement of therapeutic mAbs targeting S-protein RBD were discussed. In conclusion, it may be proposed that this review may pave the way for recognition of RBD and different mAbs to develop potential therapeutic ESV.
-
Biomed. Pharmacother. · Sep 2020
When science goes viral: The research response during three months of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Here we present the results of a bibliometric survey of peer-reviewed and pre-print papers published in the English language on issues related to COVID-19 within the first three months since a cluster of a severe acute respiratory disease of unknown etiology was officially confirmed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on 31 December 2019. A systematic search using PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases and preprint servers was performed. The articles were classified according to their type, subject and country of origin. ⋯ A high number of contributions was also seen from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The benefits and potential risks of such a massive publication output are discussed. The scientific response seen during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 outbreak is a demonstration of the capabilities of modern science to react rapidly to emerging global health threats by providing and discussing the essential information for understanding the etiological factor, its spread, preventative measures, and mitigation strategies.