Investigating the role of 13cis retinoic acid in the treatment of COVID-19 and enhancement of Its spike protein based vaccine efficacy and safety.
The study is an urgent randomized interventional comparative Phase II trial for investigating
the expected long term side effects of spike protein based vaccine which may vary from
thrombosis, platelet aggregation, autoantibodies against ACE2, to lung damage and other ACE2
expressing cell damage. This clinical study is conducted on 360 adult male and female
participants, Here, we submitted this clinical trial depending on studies with up to date
literature guidance to indicate that 13 cis Retinoic Acid will provide complete protection
against COVID-19 and will be better option for effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine owing to
its ability to induce mucosal IgA antibodies that are less prone to ADE phenomenon and
responsible for passive mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract. Retinoic acid strengthens
mucosal immunity via inducing IgA antibodies and considered potent IgA isotype Furthermore,
its impact on ACE2 receptors, Memory T cells, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, Neutrophil Chetnotaxis,
Interferon Type1, Thrombin, Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), toll-like receptor 3
(TLR3), mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS), papain-like protease (PLpro), and
Interleukin 6 ( Il-6).
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The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein directly binds with the host cell surface Angiotensin-converting
enzyme 2 (ACE2) facilitating virus entry, invading and
replication.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10].Further analysis even suggested that COVID-19 recognizes
human ACE2 more efficiently than SARS-CoV increasing the ability of COVID-19 to transmit from
human to human [11][12] Upregulation of human ACE2 enhanced and induced disease severity in a
mouse model of SARS-CoV infection, demonstrating that viral entry into cells is a critical
step[13][14] Receiving Vaccine based on COVID-19 spike protein may increase the risk of
Cellular ACE2 autoimmunity via production of autoantibodies . Many studies demonstrated that
autoimmune response to Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ACE2) induced by forced presentation
of the ACE2 protein in a complex with CoV Spike protein in Fc Receptor positive Antigen
Presenting Cells in the lung [3][4] According to this we hypothesis that spike proteins
produced by Vaccine based on the spike protein which would potentially bind to the elevated
levels of soluble ACE2 enzyme. This complex of spike protein with multiple soluble ACE2
enzymes which is similar to COVID-19 binding with cellular and soluble ACE2 will be presented
to macrophages to highlight antigens for antibody production. It is very possible that Abs
will be produced that target the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 of host cells enzyme. The
combination of the virus spike protein or vaccine spike protein with the soluble ACE2
receptor becomes antigenic, which may cause the formation of antibodies against not only the
virus spike protein or vaccine spike protein , but also parts of the ACE and ACE2 receptor.
Therefore we hypothesize that Vaccines based on the spike protein might initiate
Autoantibodies and T cells to ACE2 via binding of spike protein particles produced by vaccine
with its receptors ACE2 and The development of autoantibodies to ACE2 might make damage to
the host epithelial cell in lungs and the other different organs which express ACE2 in lung,
heart and kidney would lead to inflammation at those sites. This pattern of lung injury also
occurs in Pulmonary Hypertension secondary to Scleroderma with elevated levels of anti ACE2
antibodies.[73][78].In addition, we expect that any drug upregulation of ACE2 as in diabetic
and hypertensive patients will increase the risk of autoantibodies in case of immunization by
Vaccine based on the COVID-19 spike protein. As a result we think that covid-19 vaccine
developer should use a suitable ACE2 modulator to decrease this possible risk via helping in
formation of antibodies targeting spike protein not antibodies targeting ACE2 and spike
protein complex which may increase the risk of cellular ACE2 auto antibodies , The COVID-19
vaccine may be altered each year to counter changes to circulating strains therefore, the
possible risk of cellular ACE2 damage by autoantibodies produced by vaccine based on COVID-19
vaccine may increase with vaccination .After searching, we found a study analyzed a broad set
of 672 clinically approved drugs for treatment in cell lines demonstrated that isotretinoin
was the potent and strongest downregulator of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
receptors [15] and further, studies reported that it may prevent the cellular entry of
SARS-CoV-2 and can be a taken as a targeted therapy in COVID-19 [16][17][18]. The primary
isomers of RA formed in vivo are 9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA) and All-trans-Retinoic Acid
(atRA) and; each binds separate RA receptor types, thus acting upon a select subset of genes
[76]. 13cRA is a synthetic form that may function similar to the other produced isoforms, or
by isomerization to atRA and 9c RA. Although the exact mechanism of action is unclear; in
other words, therefore we hypothesis that isotretinoin binds directly to ACE2 receptors and
leads to its downregulation via blocking ACE2 binding capacity and this mechanism may lead to
block of COVID-19 binding to cellular and soluble ace2 receptors
Drug: Oral 13 cis retinoic acid
Dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses orally for 14 days
Drug: Aerosolized 13 cis retinoic acid
Dose of Aerosolized 13 cis retinoic acid in gradual in 2 divided doses increases froms 0.2 mg/kg/day to 4 mg/kg/day
Combination Product: 13 cis retinoic acid doses orally in combination with spike protein based vaccine
Dose of 13 cis retinoic acid (0.5 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses orally for 14 days and also, participants will receive two doses of 5-7.5x10^10 vp spike protein based vaccine such as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in deltoid of non-dominant arm, 28 days apart
Combination Product: Aerosolized 13 cis retinoic acid in combination with spike protein based vaccine
Dose of Aerosolized 13 cis retinoic acid in gradual in 2 divided doses increases from 0.2 mg/kg/day to 4 mg/kg/day for 14 days and also, participants will receive two doses of 5-7.5x10^10 vp spike protein based vaccine such as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in deltoid of non-dominant arm, 28 days apart
Biological: Biological: spike protein based vaccine such as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine
Dose of 5-7.5x10^10vp of spike protein based vaccine such as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in deltoid of non-dominant arm, 28 days apart
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Healthy adults aged 18-40 years.
2. Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection
3. Medically stable
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient state
2. Prior or concomitant vaccine therapy for COVID-19
3. significant disease, disorder, or finding
4. Hypercholesterolemia
5. Hypertriglyceridemia
6. Liver disease
7. Renal disease
8. Sjögren syndrome
9. Pregnancy
10. Lactation
11. Depressive disorder
12. Body mass index less than 18 points or higher than 25 points
13. Contraindications for hormonal contraception or intrauterine device.
14. Autoimmune diseases A history of organ, bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation
15. Patients receiving anti-hcv treatment
16. Permanent blindness in one eye
17. History of iritis, endophthalmitis, scleral inflammation or retinitis 15-90 days of
retinal detachment or eye surgery
18. The competent physician considered it inappropriate to participate in the study
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Safety and promising features of isotretinoin in tne era of COVID 2019 according Principal
Investigator Protocol:
1. This medication have the feature of Aerosolized Drug Delivery to increase its efficacy
beside Oral administration, Which makes it distinct from other medication in which
should dose be only given orally. A study demonstrated that treating with 13 cis
retinoic acid aerosolized via inhalation rout did not cause any damage in lung cells.
2. Repeated high doses of 13 cis retinoic by inhalation resulted in moderate loss of body
weight, but microscopic investigation of ten tissues including lung and oesophagus did
not detect any significant aerosol-induced damage. The results suggest that
administration of isotretinoin via powder aerosol inhalation is probably superior to
its application via the oral route in terms of achieving efficacious drug
concentrations in the lung.
3. Inhaled isotretinoin might provide sufficient drug to the target cells for efficacy
while avoiding systemic toxicity.
4. A study demonstrated that 13 cis retinoic is used in treating Emphysema (emphysema is
a lung condition that causes shortness of breath)
5. RA has been reported to induce formation of new alveoli and returns elastic recoil in
the lung to approximately normal values in animal models of emphysema.
6. Strong expectation of complete COVID -19 blockade from cell entry and infection
depending on strong ethics, researches and references.
7. Availability of our compounds.
8. Ease of application.
9. Expectation of COVID -19 treating by isotretinoin via more than one distinct
mechanism.
10. Inhibiting of thrombosis and platelet which is the most serious consequences caused by
viral spike protein or vaccine spike protein:- Co-incubation with 13-cis-RA and IL-1
resulted in a synergic increase in the release of Prostacyclin Synthase (PGI2). PGI is
a powerful vasodilator that inhibits platelet aggregation through activation of
adenylate cyclase,Consistently 13-cis-RA increased the ability of HUVEC to inhibit
Arachidonic acid -induced platelet aggregation. Because of 13cRA is a synthetic form
that may function similar to the other produced isoforms, or by isomerization to atRA
and 9c RA. RA therapy has proven anti-platelet , anti- inflammatory, and fibrinolytic
activities we suggest that 13cRA may protect patients infected with covid-19 from
pulmonary clots.
11. Isotretinoin can induce Innate Immune response for recognition of CoV in addition to ,
inhibiting IL-6 The genome of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is
recognized by melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5 (MDA5), retinoic acid
inducible gene-1 (RIG-1) and endosomal toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) as
pathogen-associated molecular patterns which recognize ssRNA and dsRNA intermediate of
COVID-19.This recognition resulted in the formation of type-1 interferon (IFN1) as in
(fig 6).COVID-19 synthesizes proteins that hinder the production IFN1 in its
replication pathway, which is an evasion mechanism
[123],[124],[125],[126],[127],[128],[129]. A study demonstrated that TLR3(-/-),
TLR4(-/-), and TRAM(-/-) mice are more susceptible to SARS-CoV than wild-type mice but
experience only transient weight loss with no mortality in response to infection. On
the other hand, mice deficient in the TLR3/TLR4 adaptor TRIF are highly susceptible to
SARS-CoV infection, showing increased weight loss, mortality, reduced lung function,
increased lung pathology, and higher viral titers [130]. Previous studies revealed
that the high level of IFN- α/β produced via the TLR3-IRF3/IRF7 pathway and IFN-β is
the reason for inhibiting Dengue virus (DENV) replication [131]. 13-cis retinoic acid
induced significant upregulation of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), mitochondrial
antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) and (RIG-I) and IFN regulatory factor 1 expression
in a time-dependent [132].Furthermore, A study reported that 13-cis-retinoic acid and
other retinoid analogs inhibit IL-1-induced IL-6 production and that this effect is
analog-specific and, at least partially, transcriptionally mediated. This effect was
dose-dependent with an IC50 of 10(-7) M RA and significant inhibition was found with
doses of RA as low as 10(-8) M [122].
Mahmoud Elkazzaz, M.Sc in Biochemistry
00201090302015
mahmoudramadan2051@yahoo.com
Mahmoud Elkazzaz, M.Sc in Biochemistry, Principal Investigator
Facculty of Science, Damietta University