An Antioxidant Enzyme Therapeutic for COVID‐19
Meng Qin, Zheng Cao, Jing Wen, Qingsong Yu, Chaoyong Liu, Fang Wang, Jianjun Zhang, Fengmei Yang, Yanyan Li, Gregory A. Fishbein, Sen Yan, Bin Xu, Yi Hou, Zhenbo Ning, Kaili Nie, Ni Jiang, Zhen Liu, Jun Wu, Yanting Yu, Heng Li, Huiwen Zheng, Jing Li, Weihua Jin, Shen Pang, Shuai Wang, Jianfeng Chen, Zhihua Gan, Zhanlong He, Yunfeng Lu
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on people worldwide, and there are currently no specific antivirus drugs or vaccines. Herein it is a therapeutic based on catalase, an antioxidant enzyme that can effectively breakdown hydrogen peroxide and minimize the downstream reactive oxygen species, which are excessively produced resulting from the infection and inflammatory process, is reported. Catalase assists to regulate production of cytokines, protect oxidative injury, and repress replication of SARS-CoV-2, as demonstrated in human leukocytes and alveolar epithelial cells, and rhesus macaques, without noticeable toxicity. Such a therapeutic can be readily manufactured at low cost as a potential treatment for COVID-19.