A KININ B1R ANTAGONIST AS A THERAPEUTIC TO PREVENT COVID-19 PATHOLOGY Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has infected almost 100 million people in the United States. We have very little understanding for the long-term consequence of having COVID-19, the disease caused by this SARS-CoV-2. Of growing concern is the observation that around 30-40% of COVID-19 patients experience persistent symptoms following recovery, a condition now called long COVID. Currently, treatments for severe COVID are limited and there are no therapies to treat or prevent long COVID. Our preclinical data has demonstrated a dramatic increase in the expression of the bradykinin 1 receptor (B1R) in severe COVID-19 and following recovery from mild COVID-19. Furthermore, chronically blocking this receptor prior to infection prevented some of these long-term consequences. Therefore, we propose that blocking the B1R could be a potential target to prevent both severe COVID-19 as well as prevent long lasting effects. The current study will assess, in our preclinical mouse model, the effects of blocking B1R under conditions applicable for treating human COVID-19 patients. We will determine survival as well as assess our previously identified pathology following recovery from COVID-19. To better treat all aspects of COVID-19, preclinical data is essential to identify the most promising candidate therapies prior to initiating clinical trials.

date/time interval

  • January 2023 - December 2023