Potential efficacy of immunosuppressant in the treatment of COVID-19 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of COVID-19 has infected millions of people and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. As there is no specific medicines or effective vaccines against 2019-nCoV at present, it is an alternative strategy to repurpose existing drugs for new diseases. Cyclosporin A inhibits the replication of coronaviruses by binding to cellular cyclophilins. Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine can block virus-receptor binding through interfering with terminal glycosylation of the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Trastuzumab prevents the binding of IL-6 to both sIL-6R and mIL-6R and thereby inhibits the cytokine storm syndrome induced by COVID-19. This paper discussed the potential anti-2019-nCoV effects of some common immunosuppressant including cyclosporine, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, and tocilizumab.