Oxidative stress and inflammation in COVID-19: potential application OF GLP-1 receptor agonists

COVID-19 is a global pandemic with devastating economic and public health impacts, which is particularly associated with increased incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular disease together with inflammation and oxidative stress as essential underlying features. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are now routinely used for the clinical management of type 2 diabetes due to their established glucose-dependent insulinotropic actions. However, these agents also display a variety of pleiotropic functions, including the promotion of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses, highlighting likely therapeutic applications beyond glycemic control. Given that COVID-19 is particularly linked with adverse modulation of inflammatory and oxidative signaling, which are known to be impacted by GLP-1 receptor activation, it seems logical that GLP-1 receptor agonists may be beneficial for the clinical management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we discuss the specific role of inflammation and oxidative stress associated with COVID-19, including underlying pathogenic mechanisms, as the basis for the potential therapeutic application of GLP-1 receptor agonists to combat both acute and chronic complications of this devastating disease.