There is a saying in the financial market: When the wind comes, pigs will fly. In the past two days, the strong wind has set off a rush in the ursodeoxycholic acid concept stocks. Where does the wind come from? It is said that ursodeoxycholic acid can deal with the new coronavirus. Is it true? Is it reliable? Ursodeoxycholic acid, what medicine is it? Is it safe? OK, let’s interpret the relevant points now.
First, let’s review the pathogenesis of the new coronavirus. Viruses need to enter the inside of the cell to replicate, and the surface of the virus carries a structure like a key or lock-picking tool, while the cell receptor is like a specific lock. After the new coronavirus enters the human body, it combines with ACE2, an angiotensin converting enzyme, causes ACE2 to undergo structural changes, enter cells, synthesize new virus particles, and then penetrates cell wall , infecting more cells. At the same time, the body's immune system acts quickly. For example, macrophage begins to phagocytize the virus, and the virus will also amplify in the macrophages. Since the new coronavirus is a new species, the body lacks specific neutralizing antibodies. In this way, immune cells may be overactivated, forming cytokine storm , causing serious symptoms and organ failure, and ultimately leading to death.
virus has a simple structure and will add or delete some DNA fragments during the replication process to form various mutant strains. If the virus's pathogenicity is weakened, like the Omickron virus strain, it mainly invades the upper respiratory tract and can only cause symptoms similar to colds or conscious symptoms. If more viruses enter the lungs, it will cause pneumonia . If the virus is more pathogenic, like the original strain of the new coronavirus, it may cause the release of a large number of pro-inflammatory factors, forming acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is very difficult to treat and lead to an increase in mortality rate. I believe everyone has understood that finding a way to prevent the virus from combining with ACE2. The virus cannot be replicated in large quantities and will only be excreted from the body. Entering the test tube for nucleic acid testing will not affect our health. The so-called COVID-19 epidemic will end the epidemic, and our lives will return to what it should be like the sun rises and sets every day.
Now, with a passionate mood, I report to everyone that the dawn of defeating new crown has appeared. The research team of of the University of Cambridge published a paper in the journal Nature on December 5, 2022. Studies have shown that ursodeoxycholic acid can prevent infection with the new coronavirus and is expected to prevent possible variants in the future. This conclusion that caused the hurricane comes from organoids, animal experiments, and real-world observations. The so-called organoid is a three-dimensional cell culture that contains key characteristics representing the organs, corresponding to similar tissues of the organs, and can reproduce some of the organs' functions, thereby providing a highly physiologically related system. It is a new means of pathology, , precision medicine, drug toxicity and efficacy research.
Cambridge University research team previously conducted research on liver disease and donated organ repair by constructing bile duct organoids. During the research, scholars accidentally discovered that there are a large number of farnilol X receptor FXR in the bile duct organoids. This receptor can effectively turn ACE2 on or off, while ursodeoxycholic acid can inhibit FXR and thus close the ACE2 channel. In this way, the new coronavirus cannot invade cells. The research team also constructed organoids of the lungs and intestinal tracts, confirming that ursodeoxycholic acid can close the ACE2 channel. Next, exosomal cell culture and hamster experiments showed that ursodeoxycholic acid can effectively prevent new coronavirus infection.
study continued. Scholars chose lungs in donor organs that are not suitable for transplantation. Through a ventilator, the lungs kept operating in vitro and maintained internal therapy cycles. Then, ursodeoxycholic acid was injected into one lung lobe and exposed the entire lung to the new coronavirus. The results showed that the lung lobes injected with the drug were not infected, while the other lobes observed in comparison were infected with the virus. Subsequently, the research team recruited 8 healthy volunteers to conduct experiments. The results showed that after the treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid, the ACE2 levels of the volunteers' nasal cells decreased.Finally, by comparing patients with liver disease who received versus those who did not receive ursodeoxycholic acid, it was found that those who received treatment were less likely to develop severe COVID-19 or hospitalization. In a word, rigorous scientific research shows that ursodeoxycholic acid can not only prevent the infection of the new coronavirus, but also prevent the infected person from developing into severe illness and has therapeutic effects.
Ursodeoxycholic acid is an organic compound that can increase bile acid secretion, change the ingredients of bile sweat, reduce cholesterol in bile, which is conducive to the dissolution of gallstone . It is mainly used to treat gallstones, cholestatic liver disease, fatty liver, hepatitis , bile reflux gastritis and other diseases. Related studies have found that ursodeoxycholic acid can also act on fibroblasts in the heart to treat arrhythmia . It is worth noting that the heart is an organ with relatively high ACE2 content. In addition, the study also found that ursodeoxycholic acid can enhance the mitochondrial function of the body cells, regulate cell energy metabolism and apoptosis pathways, and is expected to play a potential role in the mitigation mechanism of various types of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease .
Ursodeoxycholic acid is a drug that has been released from patent protection, so there is no need to worry about the high price of the drug. From a safety perspective, the main adverse reaction of ursodeoxycholic acid is diarrhea, with an incidence of about 2%. In addition, it may also cause bronchitis , pharyngitis , headache, joint pain, and itching. This drug has been used to treat cholestatic liver disease and itching in pregnant women. Clinical observations and animal trials have shown that the drug has no teratogenic effect, so it is a safe drug. Finally, we need to remind everyone that ursodeoxycholic acid is a prescription drug. acute cholecystitis or cholangitis , bile tract obstruction or gallstone calcification, gallbladder impaired function, etc. Ursodeoxycholic acid cannot be used. Moreover, liver function testing is required for use of this drug. However, since the mechanism has been grasped, I believe that in the near future, the dosage form and dosage specifically for the prevention and treatment of new coronavirus infection can be quickly found. Dawn has emerged, and defeating the new coronavirus is just around the corner. It can be said that he has been searching for him thousands of times in the crowd. Looking back suddenly, the person is there, , is in the dim light.
Whoever you love, pass on your health to.
Your health, my attention. Professionals observe health from a scientific and humanistic perspective, including series such as express reports, details, reminders, doubts, opinions, historical remarks, etc. The content is original works of the author Wei Hongling and the team. Refusal of all forms of misappropriation and reproduction without permission, otherwise it will be pursued in accordance with relevant laws.
