Conversion and Obsessive-Phobic Symptoms Predict IL-33 and IL-28A Levels in Individuals Diagnosed with COVID-19.

The first epidemiological wave of the incidence of COVID-19 in Bulgaria was registered in June 2020. After the wave peak, we conducted a study in persons diagnosed with COVID-19 (N = 52). They were assessed with the anxiety-depressive scale (ADS), including basic (BS), vegetative (VS), conversion (CS), obsessive-phobic (OPS), and depressive (DS) symptoms. ADS assessment of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 indicated a correlation between OPS and IL-33 values. IL-10 levels were higher than reference ranges in all patients. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that combination of CS and OPS explained 28% of IL-33 levels, while combination of symptoms from all ADS dimensions explained 24% of IL-33 levels. It was also found that 21% of IL-28A levels was explained from the combination by all ADS dimensions, whereas OPS was the predictor for lower concentrations. The obtained results revealed meaningful correlations between psycho neuro-immunological factors in pathogenesis of illness from the coronavirus infection.

Strengthening CoViD-19 therapy via combinations of RAS modulators.

Evidence has accumulated that the pathology of CoViD-19 is strongly related to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The blockage of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by the SARS-CoV-2 virus leads to downstream consequences such as increased vascular tone, extensive fibrosis and pronounced immune reactions. Different approaches to tackle the adverse viral effects by compensating the lost ACE2 function have been suggested. Here, we use an unequal-arm lever model to describe a simplified version of the biased regulation exercised by the angiotensin II and angiotensin-(1-7) hormones, which are the substrate and the product of ACE2, respectively. We reason upon the lever dynamics and its disruptions caused by the virus, and propose that a combination of RAS modulators will most efficiently compensate the imbalance due to the excess of angiotensin II and the scarcity of angiotensin-(1-7). Specifically, we focus on the possible benefits of the simultaneous application of two agents, a MAS-receptor agonist and an angiotensin-II-type-2-receptor agonist. We conjecture that this combination has the potential to introduce a beneficial synergistic action that promotes anti-hypoxic, anti-fibrotic and anti-proliferative effects, thereby improving the clinical management of acute and chronic CoViD-19 pathologies.