The Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Montelukast as a Potential COVID-19 Therapeutic

Abstract

The emergence and global impact of COVID-19 has focused the scientific and medical community on the pivotal influential role of respiratory viruses as causes of severe pneumonia, on the understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms, and on potential treatment for COVID-19. The latter concentrates on four different strategies: (i) antiviral treatments to limit the entry of the virus into the cell and its propagation, (ii) anti-inflammatory treatment to reduce the impact of COVID-19 associated inflammation and cytokine storm, (iii) treatment using cardiovascular medication to reduce COVID-19 associated thrombosis and vascular damage, and (iv) treatment to reduce the COVID-19 associated lung injury. Ideally, effective COVID-19 treatment should target as many of these mechanisms as possible arguing for the search of common denominators as potential drug targets. Leukotrienes and their receptors qualify as such targets: they are lipid mediators of inflammation and tissue damage and well-established targets in respiratory diseases like asthma. Besides their role in inflammation, they are involved in various other aspects of lung pathologies like vascular damage, thrombosis, and fibrotic response, in brain and retinal damages, and in cardiovascular disease. In consequence, leukotriene receptor antagonists might be potential candidates for COVID-19 therapeutics. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the potential involvement of leukotrienes in COVID-19, and the rational for the use of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast as a COVID-19 therapeutic.

Network-Based Analysis of The Genetic Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection To Patients With Exacerbation of Virus-Induced Asthma (VAE)

“…More cDEGs were identi ed in this study than the above studies, and in both GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, mainly suggesting BP enrichment of cDEGs in antiviral and nuclear division; and MF, cDEGs in protein kinase activity and chemokine activity; coincidentally, KEGG signaling suggested signi cant enrichment of viral protein-cytokines. It is speculated that antiviral and chemokine management are the key to the treatment of these two diseases, which is consistent with the current treatment strategy advocated [21,22].…”

Genome Scale-Differential Flux Analysis reveals deregulation of lung cell metabolism on SARS-CoV-2 infection

“…Increased synthesis of inflammatory molecules could be the host response to the infection. The role of leukotrienes in trigger inflammatory reactions has been highly discussed in the context of COVID-19 [44]. Beta-oxidation of fatty acid has also been discussed to play a significant role in the progress of the infection (41).…”

The effect of montelukast in children with asthma predictive ındex negative episodic viral wheezing

“…In recent studies conducted with the emergence of Covid infection; montelukast has been shown to inhibit irreversible viral infection by acting on the viral genome. 24 In an insilico study, it has been shown that montelukast has anti-viral activity by interfering with the entry of the virus into the host cell. 25 Razi et al study shows that the immunostimulant given in atopy-negative children is effective.…”