Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Molecules. 2020 Apr 29;25(9):2076. doi: 10.3390/molecules25092076.
The cytokine storm is an abnormal production of inflammatory cytokines, due to the over-activation of the innate immune response. This mechanism has been recognized as a critical mediator of influenza-induced lung disease, and it could be pivotal for COVID-19 infections. Thus, an immunomodulatory approach targeting the over-production of cytokines could be proposed for viral aggressive pulmonary disease treatment. In this regard, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, a member of the PPAR transcription factor family, could represent a potential target. Beside the well-known regulatory role on lipid and glucose metabolism, PPAR-γ also represses the inflammatory process. Similarly, the PPAR-γ agonist thiazolidinediones (TZDs), like pioglitazone, are anti-inflammatory drugs with ameliorating effects on severe viral pneumonia. In addition to the pharmacological agonists, also nutritional ligands of PPAR-γ, like curcuma, lemongrass, and pomegranate, possess anti-inflammatory properties through PPAR-γ activation. Here, we review the main synthetic and nutritional PPAR-γ ligands, proposing a dual approach based on the strengthening of the immune system using pharmacological and dietary strategies as an attempt to prevent/treat cytokine storm in the case of coronavirus infection.
细胞因子风暴是一种炎症细胞因子的异常产生，由于先天免疫反应的过度激活。这一机制已被认为是流感引起的肺部疾病的关键介质，也可能是 COVID-19 感染的关键因素。因此，针对细胞因子过度产生的免疫调节方法可用于治疗病毒性侵袭性肺病。在这方面，过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体 (PPAR)-γ，PPAR 转录因子家族的一员，可能是一个潜在的靶点。除了对脂质和葡萄糖代谢的众所周知的调节作用外，PPAR-γ 还抑制炎症过程。同样，PPAR-γ 激动剂噻唑烷二酮 (TZDs)，如吡格列酮，是具有改善严重病毒性肺炎作用的抗炎药物。除了药理学激动剂外，PPAR-γ 的营养配体，如姜黄、柠檬草和石榴，也通过 PPAR-γ 激活具有抗炎特性。在这里，我们回顾了主要的合成和营养 PPAR-γ 配体，提出了一种基于使用药理学和饮食策略来增强免疫系统的双重方法，试图预防/治疗冠状病毒感染时的细胞因子风暴。
