A hypothesized role for dysregulated bradykinin signaling in COVID-19 respiratory complications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2020
Department/School
Health Sciences
Publication Title
FASEB Journal
Abstract
© 2020 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology As of April 20, 2020, over time, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in 157 970 deaths out of 2 319 066 confirmed cases, at a Case Fatality Rate of ~6.8%. With the pandemic rapidly spreading, and health delivery systems being overwhelmed, it is imperative that safe and effective pharmacotherapeutic strategies are rapidly explored to improve survival. In this paper, we use established and emerging evidence to propose a testable hypothesis that, a vicious positive feedback loop of des-Arg(9)-bradykinin- and bradykinin-mediated inflammation → injury → inflammation, likely precipitates life threatening respiratory complications in COVID-19. Through our hypothesis, we make the prediction that the FDA-approved molecule, icatibant, might be able to interrupt this feedback loop and, thereby, improve the clinical outcomes. This hypothesis could lead to basic, translational, and clinical studies aimed at reducing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.
Link to Published Version
Recommended Citation
Roche, J. A., & Roche, R. (2020). A hypothesized role for dysregulated bradykinin signaling in COVID-19 respiratory complications. The FASEB Journal, 34(6), 7265–7269. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202000967