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Riccardi G, Niccolini GF, Bellizzi MG, Fiore M, Minni A, Barbato C. Post-COVID-19 Anosmia and Therapies: Stay Tuned for New Drugs to Sniff Out. Diseases 2023; 11:79. [PMID: 37366867 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11020079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Anosmia is defined as the complete absence of olfactory function, which can be caused by a variety of causes, with upper respiratory tract infections being among the most frequent causes. Anosmia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection has attracted attention given its main role in symptomatology and the social impact of the pandemic. Methods: We conducted systematic research in a clinicaltrials.gov database to evaluate all active clinical trials worldwide regarding drug therapies in adult patients for anosmia following SARS-CoV-2 infection with the intention of identifying the nearby prospects to treat Anosmia. We use the following search terms: "Anosmia" AND "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" OR "2019 novel coronavirus". Results: We found 18 active clinical trials that met our criteria: one phase 1, one phase 1-2, five phases 2, two phases 2-3, three phases 3, and six phases 4 studies were identified. The drug therapies that appear more effective and promising are PEA-LUT and Cerebrolysin. The other interesting drugs are 13-cis-retinoic acid plus aerosolized Vitamin D, dexamethasone, and corticosteroid nasal irrigation. Conclusions: COVID-19 has allowed us to highlight how much anosmia is an important and debilitating symptom for patients and, above all, to direct research to find a therapy aimed at curing the symptom, whether it derives from SARS-CoV-2 infection or other infections of the upper airways. Some of these therapies are very promising and are almost at the end of experimentation. They also provide hope in this field, which not addressed until recently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Riccardi
- Department of Sense Organs (DOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | | | - Mario Giuseppe Bellizzi
- Department of Sense Organs (DOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Fiore
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Unit of Translational Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Sense Organs (DOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Minni
- Department of Sense Organs (DOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ospedale San Camillo de Lellis, ASL Rieti-Sapienza University, Viale Kennedy, 02100 Rieti, Italy
| | - Christian Barbato
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Unit of Translational Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Sense Organs (DOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy
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Rosso P, Fico E, Colafrancesco S, Bellizzi MG, Priori R, Cerbelli B, Leopizzi M, Giordano C, Greco A, Tirassa P, Severini C, Fusconi M. Involvement of Substance P (SP) and Its Related NK1 Receptor in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) Pathogenesis. Cells 2023; 12:1347. [PMID: 37408182 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily attacks the lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in impaired secretory function characterized by xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Patients with pSS have been shown to have impaired salivary gland innervation and altered circulating levels of neuropeptides thought to be a cause of decreased salivation, including substance P (SP). Using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence studies, we examined the expression levels of SP and its preferred G protein-coupled TK Receptor 1 (NK1R) and apoptosis markers in biopsies of the minor salivary gland (MSG) from pSS patients compared with patients with idiopathic sicca syndrome. We confirmed a quantitative decrease in the amount of SP in the MSG of pSS patients and demonstrated a significant increase in NK1R levels compared with sicca subjects, indicating the involvement of SP fibers and NK1R in the impaired salivary secretion observed in pSS patients. Moreover, the increase in apoptosis (PARP-1 cleavage) in pSS patients was shown to be related to JNK phosphorylation. Since there is no satisfactory therapy for the treatment of secretory hypofunction in pSS patients, the SP pathway may be a new potential diagnostic tool or therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Rosso
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Fico
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Colafrancesco
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Giuseppe Bellizzi
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Priori
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruna Cerbelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Leopizzi
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Giordano
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Tirassa
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Severini
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Fusconi
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
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