The Role of Bioactive Lipids and Statins in COVID-19 Disease and Their Use in the Therapeutic Approach. Are These Effective?

COVID-19 disease constitutes a significant threat to human existence worldwide due to the increased transmissibility, morbidity and mortality caused by the still unknown SARS-COV2 virus. A critical issue is the lack of effectiveness of drug options. In our research, a literature review, we explore the role of bioactive lipids and statins can play, as a main or adjunctive treatment in the COVID-19. We reviewed 150 articles in the Databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Embassy and Cochrane) relatives of the use of bioactive lipids and statins in severe COVID-19 disease and we selected 117 articles that fit with our research question. So, our research constitutes a bibliography review of 117 articles, finally. The administration of exogenous bioactive lipids (BALs), Omega 3 EPA, DHA supplements induces the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the prevention of cytokine storm and enhancing the therapeutic benefit by accelerating recovery. Therefore, they potentially reduce the need for ICU hospitalization and the number of intensive care unit days of stay, accelerating recovery thus also numerically reducing critical cases. The possible harms of lipids should be considered. There are positive and negative effects regarding the use of statins. According to the literature, Statins offer beneficial effects on COVID-19 disease. For de novo statin use in COVID-19 patients, the Benefit/Risk ratio should be taken into account. In conclusion, although lipids and statins seem to benefit patients with severe COVID-19 disease, nevertheless, more double blind randomized studies are needed to determine their safety and efficacy profile.

Molecular pathobiology of scleritis and its therapeutic implications

Scleritis and other autoimmune diseases are characterized by an imbalance in the levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules with the balance tilted more towards the former due to the failure of recognition of self. The triggering of inflammatory process could be ascribed to the presence of cytoplasmic DNA/chromatin that leads to activation of cytosolic DNA-sensing c GAS-STING(cyclic GMP-AMP synthase linked to stimulator of interferon genes) pathway and enhanced expression of NF-κB that results in an increase in the production of pro-inflammatory bioactive lipids. Bioactive lipids gamma-linolenic acid(GLA), dihomoGLA(DGLA), prostaglandin E1(PGE1), prostacyclin(PGI2) and lipoxin A4, resolvins, protectins and maresins have antiinflammatory actions, bind to DNA to render it non-antigenic and are decreased in autoimmune diseases. These results suggest that efforts designed to enhance the production of anti-inflammatory bioactive lipids may form a new approach to autoimmune diseases. Local injection or infusion of lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins or their precursors such as arachidonic acid may be exploited in the prevention and management of autoimmune diseases including scleritis, uveitis and lupus/rheumatoid arthritis.