Multi-organ damage by covid-19: congestive (cardio-pulmonary) heart failure, and blood-heart barrier leakage

Mol Cell Biochem. 2021 Apr;476(4):1891-1895. doi: 10.1007/s11010-021-04054-z. Epub 2021 Jan 22.

Abstract

Corona virus disease-19 (covid-19) is caused by a coronavirus that is also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and is generally characterized by fever, respiratory inflammation, and multi-organ failure in susceptible hosts. One of the first things during inflammation is the response by acute phase proteins coupled with coagulation. The angiotensinogen (a substrate for hypertension) is one such acute phase protein and goes on to explain an association of covid-19 with that of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2, a metallopeptidase). Therefore, it is advisable to administer, and test the efficacy of specific blocker(s) of angiotensinogen such as siRNAs or antibodies to covid-19 subjects. Covid-19 activates neutrophils, macrophages, but decreases T-helper cells activity. The metalloproteinases promote the activation of these inflammatory immune cells, therefore; we surmise that doxycycline (a metalloproteinase inhibitor, and a safer antibiotic) would benefit the covid-19 subjects. Along these lines, an anti-acid has also been suggested for mitigation of the covid-19 complications. Interestingly, there are three primary vegetables (celery, carrot, and long-squash) which are alkaline in their pH-range as compared to many others. Hence, treatment with fresh juice (without any preservative) from these vegies or the antioxidants derived from purple carrot and cabbage together with appropriate anti-coagulants may also help prevent or lessen the detrimental effects of the covid-19 pathological outcomes. These suggested remedies might be included in the list of putative interventions that are currently being investigated towards mitigating the multi-organ damage by Covid-19 during the ongoing pandemic.

Keywords: Connexin; Doxycycline; Endocardial endothelia; Fibrosis/remodeling; Matrix metalloproteinases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / genetics
  • Angiotensinogen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Angiotensinogen / genetics
  • COVID-19 / genetics
  • COVID-19 / physiopathology
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart / physiopathology
  • Heart / virology
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / virology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Neutrophils / virology
  • Pandemics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / therapeutic use*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Angiotensinogen
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2