Use of DPP4 inhibitors in Italy does not correlate with diabetes prevalence among COVID-19 deaths

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is a serine exopeptidase which regulates immune responses by acting as a co-stimulatory molecule on T-cells [1]. It is a pharmacological target of DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4i), a class of drugs widely used for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). It has been proposed that DPP4 might sterically interact with the S1 domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein [2]. Moreover, DPP4i modulate inflammation by suppressing Th17 activity and proinflammatory cytokines [3-5], two features of severe COVID-19 [6, 7].
Source: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research