Inflammasomes: polymeric assembly

Vaccines and drugs under clinical trials for prevention and treatment of COVID-19

The uncertainty related to prevention and treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 due to lack of effective vaccine candidates or drug molecules has resulted in extensive spread of infection and mortality worldwide. Although the asymptomatic or mild patients are becoming healthy with regular over-the-counter medicines and proper rest and care, for the severe patients, in the absence of definite cure, different drug combinations are being used to treat on trial basis without the assurance of efficacy and safety. This scenario has however changed now with some medicines including antiviral Remdesivir and Favipiravir and anti-inflammatory drugs like dexamethasone and tocilizumab which have shown some positive results in trials such as decreasing need of mechanical or non-invasive ventilation or mortality. Further, a number of vaccine candidates are currently in pipeline and in advance stages of clinical trials, which will enhance their prospects in determining how the disease will be controlled in the times to come. In this article, an account of the under-trial potential drugs and vaccine candidates has been provided, and their future prospects have been discussed.

Andrographolide suppresses thymic stromal lymphopoietin in phorbol myristate acetate/calcium ionophore A23187-activated mast cells and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like mice model

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory cutaneous diseases. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been demonstrated to be an important immunologic factor in the pathogenesis of AD. The production of TSLP can be induced by a high level of intracellular calcium concentration and activation of the receptor-interacting protein 2/caspase-1/NF-κB pathway. Andrographolide (ANDRO), a natural bicyclic diterpenoid lactone, has been found to exert anti-inflammatory effects in gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders through suppressing the NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of ANDRO on the production of TSLP in human mast cells and AD mice model.

METHODS

We utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining assay to investigate the effects of ANDRO on AD.

RESULTS

ANDRO ameliorated the increase in the intracellular calcium, protein, and messenger RNA levels of TSLP induced by phorbol myristate acetate/calcium ionophore A23187, through the blocking of the receptor-interacting protein 2/caspase-1/NF-κB pathway in human mast cell line 1 cells. ANDRO, via oral or local administration, also attenuated clinical symptoms in 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced AD mice model and suppressed the levels of TSLP in lesional skin.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, ANDRO may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD through suppressing the expression of TSLP.