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Coronaviruses

Potential Therapeutic Approach for COVID-19: Targeting the Renin-Angiotensin System with Vitamin D

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences have made a significant discovery regarding the potential treatment of COVID-19. The study, published in the Reviews in Medical Virology journal, suggests that vitamin D may play a crucial role in combating the disease by targeting the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). According to the study, the virus causes ACE2 down-regulation, which leads to lung injury and pneumonia. Vitamin D, being a negative endocrine RAS modulator, can induce ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis activity, thereby increasing the expression and concentration of ACE2, MasR, and Ang-(1-7) and having a potential protective role against acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Key Takeaways:

  • The study suggests that the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes ACE2 down-regulation, which leads to lung injury and pneumonia.
  • Vitamin D is a negative endocrine RAS modulator that can induce ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis activity, increasing the expression and concentration of ACE2, MasR, and Ang-(1-7).
  • The study proposes targeting the unbalanced RAS and ACE2 down-regulation with vitamin D as a potential therapeutic approach to combat COVID-19 and induced ARDS.
  • The researchers obtained a quote from the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, stating that vitamin D has a potential protective role against acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  • The study notes that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.
  • The research team concluded that targeting the unbalanced RAS and ACE2 down-regulation with vitamin D is a potential therapeutic approach to combat COVID-19 and induced ARDS.

Statistics:

  • The study reports that COVID-19 is causing many deaths worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a pandemic in March 2020.
  • The researchers estimate that there is no registered and/or definite treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 or the causative infection, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 syndrome (SARS-CoV-2).
  • The study found that vitamin D is a negative endocrine RAS modulator that can induce ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis activity, increasing the expression and concentration of ACE2, MasR, and Ang-(1-7).
  • The research was conducted at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, and the study is published in the Reviews in Medical Virology journal.

Sources:

  • A brief review of interplay between vitamin D and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: Implications for a potential treatment for COVID-19 (Reviews in Medical Virology, 2020)
  • Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA (July 12, 2020, p 482)
  • Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
  • John Wiley & Sons LTD (the Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester PO19 8SQ, W Sussex, England)

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