Multiple potential targets of opioids in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome from COVID-19.

Multiple potential targets of opioids in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome from COVID-19. J Cell Mol Med. 2020 Nov 19;: Authors: Cismaru CA, Cismaru GL, Nabavi SF, Ghanei M, Burz CC, Nabavi SM, Berindan Neagoe I Abstract COVID-19 can present with a variety of clinical features, ranging from asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms to fulminant acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) depending on the host's immune responses and the extent of the associated pathologies. This implies that several measures need to be taken to limit severely impairing symptoms caused by viral-induced pathology in vital organs. Opioids are most exploited for their analgesic effects but their usage in the palliation of dyspnoea, immunomodulation and lysosomotropism may represent potential usages of opioids in COVID-19. Here, we describe the mechanisms involved in each of these potential usages, highlighting the benefits of using opioids in the treatment of ARDS from SARS-CoV-2 infection. PMID: 33211389 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: J Cell Mol Med - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: J Cell Mol Med Source Type: research