Activation of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for COVID-19

Frontiers in Immunology

Xia Liu¹  Kefa Xiang¹  Yang Sun¹  Ding-Feng Su¹  Zhen Qin² 

[1] Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China;Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, China;

关键词: coronavirus disease 2019;    cytokine storm;    cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway;    therapeutic strategy;    vagus nerve stimulation;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fimmu.2020.595342

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) underlined the urgent need for alleviating cytokine storm. We propose here that activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) is a potential therapeutic strategy. However, there is currently no approved drugs targeting the regulatory pathway. It is evident that nicotine, anisodamine and some herb medicine, activate the CAP and exert anti-inflammation action in vitro and in vivo. As the vagus nerve affects both inflammation and specific immune response, we propose that vagus nerve stimulation by invasive or non-invasive devices and acupuncture at ST36, PC6, or GV20, are also feasible approaches to activate the CAP and control COVID-19. It is worth to investigate the efficacy and safety of the strategy in patients with COVID-19.

【 授权许可】

Unknown