Possible effects of sirolimus treatment on the longterm efficacy of COVID19 vaccination in patients with ßthalassemia: A theoretical perspective.
Int J Mol Med
; 49(3)2022 Mar.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1643661
ABSTRACT
The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARSCoV2), responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) has posed a major challenge for global health. In order to successfully combat SARSCoV2, the development of effective COVID19 vaccines is crucial. In this context, recent studies have highlighted a high COVID19 mortality rate in patients affected by ßthalassemia, probably due to their coexistent immune deficiencies. In addition to a role in the severity of SARSCoV2 infection and in the mortality rate of COVID19infected patients with thalassemia, immunosuppression is expected to deeply affect the effectivity of antiCOVID19 vaccines. In the context of the interplay between thalassemiaassociated immunosuppression and the effectiveness of COVID19 vaccines, the employment of immunomodulatory molecules is hypothesized. For instance, shortterm treatment with mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (such as everolimus and sirolimus) has been found to improve responses to influenza vaccination in adults, with benefits possibly persisting for a year following treatment. Recently, sirolimus has been considered for the therapy of hemoglobinopathies (including ßthalassemia). Sirolimus induces the expression of fetal hemoglobin (and this may contribute to the amelioration of the clinical parameters of patients with ßthalassemia) and induces autophagy (thereby reducing the excessive levels of αglobin). It may also finally contribute to the mobilization of erythroid cells from the bone marrow (thereby reducing anemia). In the present study, the authors present the hypothesis that sirolimus treatment, in addition to its beneficial effects on erythroidrelated parameters, may play a crucial role in sustaining the effects of COVID19 vaccination in patients with ßthalassemia. This hypothesis is based on several publications demonstrating the effects of sirolimus treatment on the immune system.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Beta-Thalassemia
/
Sirolimus
/
COVID-19 Vaccines
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal subject:
Molecular Biology
/
Genetics, Medical
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijmm.2022.5088
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