Hydroxyurea interaction with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor can underlie its therapeutic efficacy upon COVID-19.

In this paper the authors provide evidence that hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide) interacts with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, exerts anti-inflammatory and pro-survival effect, prevents α7 nicotinic receptor interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 and stimulates IgM to IgG class switch upon immunization with SARS spike protein fragment 674–685. Hydroxyurea shifts immunoglobulin glycosylation profile to anti-inflammatory phenotype and prevents the appearance of anti-idiotypic α7(179–190)-specific antibodies, as well as memory impairment. According to these results, interaction with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor may underlie positive therapeutic effects of hydroxyurea upon SARS-Cov-2 infection by interfering with virus penetration into the cell and providing anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. [Display omitted] • HU interacts with α7 nAChR resulting in anti-inflammatory and pro-survival effect. • HU treatment prevents α7 nAChR – ACE-2 interaction in the brain of mice. • HU treatment stimulates IgM to IgG class switch in mice immunized with SARS(674–685). • HU affects immunoglobulin glycosylation resulting in anti-inflammatory phenotype. • HU treatment prevents memory impairment in mice immunized with SARS(674–685). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]