Recently 2Deoxy D glucose is catching the media attention claiming that it is more effective in reducing and recovering from covid-19 infection. Strictly speaking it is still under clinical trials. Research has been done to understand replication ( generation of daughter virus from parent virus) mechanism of Covid-19 that showed some promising results for targeted drugs usage which includes,
- In monocytes (a type of white blood cells), the elevated levels of host glucose helps in regulating the replication mechanism of any virus that enters into host by the cytokines (specific immune cells that regulates host immunity) production in monocytes.
- Cov-2 induced response of monocytes and viral replication are sustained by Glycolysis(a metabolic pathway in cell that breaks glucose to provide energy to cell).
- For Cov-2 replication and monocyte to produce cytokine, a necessary components are mtROS /HIF-1α.
- If cytokines are produced by monocyte activation, then this leads to Tcell (helps immune cells to detect any infectious particles that enter the body) dysfunction and death of epithelial cells in lungs thereby making exchange of gases a difficult process so oxygen levels decreases in patient.
In Covid-19 patients, monocytes and macrophages (both are a type of white blood cells), are found in more number in lungs showing that they play a crucial role in pathogenicity of the disease. By adapting to highly glycolytic metabolism after infection, these cells allow SARS-COV-2 to replicate.
Due to this infection, the mitochondrial ROS (reactive oxygen species) production will be started and stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α) which helps in promoting continuous glycolysis in host.
Monocyte metabolism in which HIF-1 α alteration occurs due to SARC-CoV-2 infection directly stops T cell response causing epithelial cells to die.
So by targeting HIF-1 α may have great therapeutic potential for the development of novel drugs. 2 Deoxy D glucose or 2DG is being claimed as a substitute for mocking host glucose as per the media news, but clinical trial data is not found completely yet.
As per the DRDO approval this 2DG drug has been approved as an adjuvant(supporting drug with previous prescribed drugs) therapy but not approved as a complete cure for Covid-19 alone. The defense ministry also gave to union health ministry in the above mentioned terms as usage of this drug as an adjuvant in the name of clinical trial only.
How far the drug will be successful in mocking the host glucose to the viral particles in stopping its replication is yet to be known by proper clinical data which may take further 3 to 4 weeks as per the experts view. And more over the number of viral particles in their replicative phase cannot be exactly predicted in patient body for targeted therapy. Same is in the case of Remdesivir an antiviral drug that targets on replicative phase of viruses, if when given to patient and if the number of viral particles are more in replicative phase then only this drug will work effectively.
Whatever drugs are coming in the market are all actually under clinical trials, since no drug is proven 100% effective for Covid-19 yet with proper data, efficacy is tested in terms of patient response only after administering those drugs into patient.
Still the saying prevention is better than seeking for cure has to be followed, breaking of viral spreading chain is since not possible so, atleast maintaining social distance, wearing mask, personal hygiene, having proper diet with regular exercise and mostly having a calm and cool mental health helps in boosting of immunity thereby giving strength to body to fight against the infection has to be done from our side.
