Reduction of ACE2 Serum Concentrations by Telbivudine in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has wreaked havoc worldwide since December 2019. Currently, no effective medical treatments have been approved. As the epidemic continues to spread, SARS-CoV-2 mutants emerge, some of which become more infectious with increasing vaccine resistance. The main route for SARS-CoV-2 to enter the host cells is by binding its spike protein to the host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Besides the membrane-bound form of ACE2, the soluble form of ACE2 (sACE2) can also bind SARS-CoV-2 for viral endocytosis.

OBJECTIVE:

Previously, we found that telbivudine reduced the concentrations of ACE1 in blood. Therefore, we speculated that this drug might also reduce the concentrations of sACE2.

METHODS:

In this retrospective study, serum samples from 39 hepatitis B patients receiving telbivudine were collected and examined for sACE2 concentrations using an ELISA kit..

RESULTS:

It was found that the serum concentrations of sACE2 were significantly declined in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with telbivudine.

CONCLUSION:

Telbivudine treatment reduced sACE2 concentrations, which could potentially reduce the infection risk of SARS-CoV-2.

• Authors: Ya-Hui Huang, Chau-Ting Yeh, Chao-Wei Hsu, Yang-Hsiang Lin
• Journal: Current molecular medicine (Curr Mol Med) Vol. 23 Issue 5 Pg. 420-424 ( 2023) ISSN: 1875-5666 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 35538813 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].

Chemical References

• Telbivudine
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
• Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A

Topics

• Humans
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• Telbivudine (pharmacology)
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (metabolism)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Protein Binding