A Novel Potential Therapeutic Tool to Increase Efficiency of Available COV-19 Vaccines

Mini Review

J Immun Res. 2022; 8(1): 1043.

A Novel Potential Therapeutic Tool to Increase Efficiency of Available COV-19 Vaccines

Thabet RH1,2*, Radaideh AKT2, Qdisat SMH2, Shannaq AAM2, Obeydy HNS2,3, Amoorah BA2 and Wilson EM4

1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

2Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

3Medical intern in Princess Basma, Teaching Hospital, Irbid, Jordan

4Assiut Health Directorate, Egypt

*Corresponding author: Romany H. Thabet, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

Received: January 12, 2022; Accepted: February 08, 2022; Published: February 15, 2022

Abstract

A side from the activation of the immune cells and the noticed increase of cytokine levels in COVID-19 patients who have cytokine storm, it has been proved that they have multiple clinical and laboratory irregularities as renal dysfunction and CRP, in addition hyper-inflammation and tissue damage that found to predict worse effects of COVID-19. Over production of cytokines during SARS-CoV-2 can result in damage of lung tissues, ARDS and death. Many studies recently reported that severity of the disease was significantly lower in the vaccinated individuals who get infected with COVID-19 compared to nonvaccinated ones. There are contradictory data with regard to the immunological effect of COVID-19 vaccines. No evidence of raised cytokines levels was shown in vaccinated people with Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. On the other hand, Covaxin increases plasma levels of some cytokines like IFNγ, IL-2, TNFα, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 and others but reduced levels of other cytokines as IL-25, IL-33 and GM-CSF. Pfizer reduced the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β. The current review highlights updates on the immunological aspects of COVID-19 and its vaccines. After elaborating advanced research studies, cytokine inhibitors and JAK inhibitors could be used in adjunct with available vaccines or as promising therapeutic target for severe cases of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cytokine inhibitors; JAK inhibitors; Vaccines

Abbreviations

ARDS: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; CRS: Cytokine Release Syndrome; CSF: Colony Stimulating Factor; DIC: Diffused Intravascular Coagulation; G-CSF: Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; GM-IP-10: 10 kD Interferon-Gamma-Induced Protein; GMCSF: Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor; HGF: Hepatocyte Growth Factor; IL-1β: Interleukin 1β; IL-2R: Interleukin 2 Receptor; IL-2: Interleukin 2; IL-4: Interleukin 4; IL-6: Interleukin 6; IL-7: Interleukin 7; IL-10: Interleukin 10; M-CSF: Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; MCP-1: Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1; MIP 1-α: Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1 Alpha; PARs: Proteinase-Activated Receptors; TNF-α: Tumor Necrosis Factor α; VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Introduction

Advanced COVID-19 syndrome is characterized by the uncontrolled and elevated release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppressed immunity, leading to the cytokine storm; cytokines are small glycoproteins produced by various types of cells through the body but in cytokine storm various inflammatory cytokines are produced at much higher rate than normal, causes positive feedback on other immune cells to occur, which causes another immune cells recruitment to the site of injury and leads to organ damage (Figure 1).