RETRACTED: Immunomodulatory effects of nanocurcumin on Th17 cell responses in mild and severe COVID‐19 patients

Abstract

In novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), the increased frequency and overactivation of T helper (Th) 17 cells and subsequent production of large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines result in hyperinflammation and disease progression. The current study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of nanocurcumin on the frequency and responses of Th17 cells in mild and severe COVID‐19 patients. In this study, 40 severe COVID‐19 intensive care unit‐admitted patients and 40 patients in mild condition were included. The frequency of Th17 cells, the messenger RNA expression of Th17 cell‐related factors (RAR‐related orphan receptor γt, interleukin [IL]‐17, IL‐21, IL‐23, and granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor), and the serum levels of cytokines were measured in both nanocurcumin and placebo‐treated groups before and after treatment. A significant decrease in the number of Th17 cells, downregulation of Th17 cell‐related factors, and decreased levels of Th17 cell‐related cytokines were found in mild and severe COVID‐19 patients treated by nanocurcumin compared to the placebo group. Moreover, the abovementioned parameters were significantly decreased in the nanocurcumin‐treated group after treatment versus before treatment. Curcumin could reduce the frequency of Th17 cells and their related inflammatory factors in both mild and severe COVID‐19 patients. Hence, it could be considered as a potential modulatory compound in improving the patient's inflammatory condition.

Curcumin as a Potential Treatment for COVID-19

“…Clinical studies have demonstrated the effects of nanoencapsulated curcumin in patients with COVID-19. In the aforementioned study, a significant reduction in clinical manifestations of COVID-19 (fever, cough, and dyspnea) was observed in the group treated with nanocurcumin (patients with mild and severe disease) (Tahmasebi et al, 2020;Valizadeh et al, 2020). In addition, nanocurcumin reduced the mortality rate of these patients.…”

“…Patients with COVID-19 showed high mRNA expression and secretion of cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-18, but showed a significant reduction in IL-6 and IL-1β after treatment with nanocurcumin (Valizadeh et al, 2020). Subsequently, exploring the modulatory mechanisms of nanocurcumin, the researchers demonstrated that the number of Th17 cells, gene expression, and serum Th17-mediated factors level (IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, and GM-CSF) were significantly reduced in both stages of the disease in the group of patients with COVID-19 treated with nanocurcumin (Tahmasebi et al, 2020).…”

“…Although clinical studies have not reported the direct effects of curcumin on respiratory impairment, the decrease in clinical manifestations (fever, cough, and dyspnea) in patients with COVID-19 is a promising indicator that encourages further investigations (Tahmasebi et al, 2020;Valizadeh et al, 2020). Many clinical trials have established the therapeutic potential of curcumin, either as a single agent or in combination with other drugs in various diseases, owing to its effect on diverse cell signaling pathways.…”

“…In addition, nanocurcumin reduced the mortality rate of these patients. However, the mortality rate of the placebo group was significantly higher than that of the two groups (patients with light and severe disease) treated with nanocurcumin (Tahmasebi et al, 2020;Valizadeh et al, 2020). Currently, another study involving patients with COVID-19 treated with nanoencapsulated curcumin is ongoing (Hassaniazad et al, 2020).…”

Spices for taming the COVID-19 pandemic: Prospects and perspectives

“…Combined application of vitamin C, curcumin and glycyrrhizic acid was found effective against this virus by regulation of crucial pathways (Kandeel & Al-Nazawi 2020). Clinical studies using nanoencapsulated curcumin significantly reduced symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, and dyspnea) (Tahmasebi et al 2020;Valizadeh et al 2020).…”