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Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis Activate Natural Killer Cells: Do They Protect Against COVID-19 Infection?

Mena Al-Ani1, Noha Mousaad Elemam1, Jennifer Elisabeth Hundt2

  • 1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine and the Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.

Infection and Drug Resistance
|October 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Certain drugs may restore natural killer (NK) cell activity impaired by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-19 (SARS-CoV-2). This could enhance protection against COVID-19 infection and its complications.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection impairs natural killer (NK) cell function.
  • NK cells are crucial for innate antiviral immunity and do not require prior sensitization.
  • Restoring NK cell activity presents a potential therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing drugs that enhance NK cell activity.
  • To propose these drugs as potential therapeutics to restore NK cell function in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on NK cell function and drug effects.
  • Analysis of drugs known to modulate NK cell activity, including glatiramer acetate, vitamin D3, dimethyl fumarate, monomethyl fumarate, natalizumab, ocrelizumab, and IFN-β.
  • Examination of NK cell activation markers such as CD107a, perforin, and granzymes.

Main Results:

  • Several drugs have demonstrated the ability to enhance NK cell biological activities.
  • These drugs can increase NK cell cytolytic potential, evidenced by upregulation of CD107a and release of perforin and granzymes.
  • Impaired NK cell function in COVID-19 patients highlights them as a therapeutic target.

Conclusions:

  • Drugs that enhance NK cell activity may offer a novel approach to combatting SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Restoring NK cell function could improve patient outcomes and reduce COVID-19 complications.
  • Further research into these immunomodulatory drugs is warranted for COVID-19 treatment.
Keywords:
COVID-19NK cellsmultiple sclerosis

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