Redox Biol: Nitric oxide can be used to treat COVID-19.

Oct 4, 2020 /--- Researchers at Uppsala University have found that effective treatments for the coronavirus behind the 2003 SARS epidemic also apply to the closely related SARS-CoV-2.
specifically, the researchers found that nitric oxide (NO), an antiviral-specific compound produced by the body itself, has the effect of killing new coronavirus.
the study was published in the journal Redox Biology.
"As far as we know, nitric oxide is the only substance that has so far been shown to have a direct impact on SARS-CoV-2," said Mike Lundkvist, a professor at Uppsala University who led the study.
(Photo source: www.pixabay.com) because COVID-19 is still not an effective cure, the main focus of the treatment tested is to relieve symptoms.
this can reduce hospital stays and mortality.
, however, so far there is no way to treat patients who already have new coronary pneumonia.
nitric oxide (NO) is a naturally occurring compound in the body.
its function includes controlling various organs that function like hormones.
, for example, it regulates vascular pressure and blood flow between and inside organs.
in acute lung failure, NO can be used as an inhaled gas to increase oxygen saturation.
the treatment was successfully tried during the SARS epidemic in 2003.
reasons for successful outcomes is reduced inflammation of the lungs in patients.
of nitric oxide - which provides protection against infection by being both antibacterial and antiviral - is now of interest to researchers.
their research builds on the findings of the coronavirus that led to the first SARS epidemic.
2003, NO released by S-nitro-N-acetyl penicillin (SNAP) was shown to have significant antiviral effects.
at Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute have now studied the response of the new coronavirus SARS CoV-2 to the current pandemic.
SNAP also showed significant antiviral effects on the virus, and as the dose increased, the effect became stronger and stronger.
"Until an effective vaccine is available, we hope that inhalation of NO may be an effective treatment."
and timing of treatment may play an important role in outcomes and needs to be explored as soon as possible.
," said Luke Lundkvist.
the team now plans to continue studying the antiviral effects of NO emissions in the form of gases.
, they will build a model in the lab to safely simulate possible patient forms of treatment.
(bioon.com) Source: Nitric oxide a possible treatment for COVID-19 Source: Dario Akaberi et al. Mitigation of the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by nitric oxide in vitro, Redox Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101734.