This is the fifteenth video in the series of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
CytoDyn’s (OTCMKTS: CYDY) investigational antibody is being trialled in a study to treat mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19, and another to treat severely ill patients with the virus. the scientists are expecting that that the drug, leronlimab, may prevent the ‘cytokine storm’ that inflames and fatally damages the lungs and other organs of many COVID-19 patients.
The clinical trial comprised of 10 patients who had extremely high blood levels of CCL5, which are inflammatory molecules known as cytokines. This is why the extreme inflammatory response is known as the cytokine storm.
By calming the overactive immune systems of these patients, Leronlimab halted the inflammation and blood clotting that are so damaging to the lungs, liver and kidneys of severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Leronlimab interfered with those CCL5 molecules, preventing them from directing immune cells to swarm into and inflame the lungs and other organs.
All patients received a subcutaneous 700 mg dose of Leronlimab after baseline blood collection. Patients were monitored longitudinally for 2 weeks after treatment. As early as 3 days after therapy, investigators noted a reduction of plasma IL-6, which returned to healthy levels by day 14. More variable levels, however, were observed with IL-1β, IL-8, and CCL5. There was a marked restoration in CD8+ T cell ratio in the blood following leronlimab treatment.
A high sensitivity digital droplet PCR was used to quantify the plasma at baseline, in which SARS-CoV-2 was detected in all 10 patients, underscoring the severity of COVID-19. However, investigators noted a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 plasma viremia in all patients at day 7 following treatment, indicating that leronlimab may be effective in anti-viral immunity.
In order to establish an unbiased gene repertoire, investigators performed 10X Genomics 5’ single cell RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in order to evaluate the transcriptional changes between an uninfected, healthy person and 2 patients with severe COVID-19. They identified 2,890 differentially expressed transcripts, showing that the 2 patients had a greater abundance of myeloid cells upregulating inflammatory-interferon, and chemokine-related genes. Chemokines (CXCL8, CCL4, CCL3), inflammatory and immune activation genes (IL-1β, CD69), and the IFN-related genes (IFI27, IFITM3) were among the most notable overexpressed genes in the COVID-19 samples.
References –
1. Manuscript Describes How CytoDyn’s Leronlimab Disrupts CCL5/RANTES-CCR5 Pathway, Thereby Restoring Immune Homeostasis, Reducing Plasma Viral Load, Reversing Hyper Immune Activation and Inflammation in Critical COVID-19 Patients [news release]. Vancouver, WA: CytoDyn; May 6, 2020. LINK. Accessed May 8, 2020.
2. Patterson B, Seetthamraju H, Dhody K, et al. Disruption of the CCL5/RANTES-CCR5 Pathway Restores Immune Homeostasis and Reduces Plasma Viral Load in Critical COVID-19 [Published Online May 5, 2020]. Research Gate. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-26517/v1.
Link of my Facebook Page –
COVID-19 Video Links –
1. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Virology and Outbreak –
2. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – ACE and ARB Dilemma –
3. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Treatment – REMDESIVIR – Hype or Real –
4. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Treatment – Chloroquine + Azithromycin – Hype or Real Part II
5. Coronavirus (COVID 19) -Treatment/Cure – Chloroquine + Azithromycin – Hype or Real
6. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Treatment/Cure – Tocilizumab – Hype or Real
7. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Why Are Men More Affected Than Women? – Pathogenesis and Receptor Binding
8. Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Treatment/Cure – RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase Analysis
9. COVID-19 and Diabetes – Treatment/Cure – DPP4 Inhibitors – Hype or Real
10. COVID-19 and Ivermectin – A Scientific Approach
11. COVID-19 and ARDS – Vascular Complications
2. IL-6: from its discovery to clinical applications
12. CD 147 – An Alternative Receptor For SARS-CoV-2
13. SARS-CoV-2 and Interleukin 6 – Complications in COVID-19
