key: cord-0945283-ub3mw36h
authors: Szolnoky, Győző
title: Further aspects of doxycycline therapy in COVID‐19
date: 2020-06-13
journal: Dermatol Ther
DOI: 10.1111/dth.13810
sha: 558e444ae2d7d3686dcefb07df9a6c271ebaad80
doc_id: 945283
cord_uid: ub3mw36h

nan

The tetracycline antibiotic doxycycline is a non-toxic inhibitor of mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular respiration 2 besides other known pleiotropic properties. 1 Now that the World Health Organization has just halted hydroxychloroquine trials for COVID-19 due to safety reasons the time has come to find auxiliary compounds so as to give additional benefit to doxycycline.

We also need to take into account that quite a lot similarities in metabolic pathways of virally infected and cancer cells have been observed. 3 

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dynamics. 4 Most viruses require aerobic glycolysis as energy source for replication and its inhibition could attenuate this process. 4 Vitamin C is a broad spectrum antiviral agent 5 and an inhibitor of aerobic glycolysis. 2 The combined administration of doxycycline with vitamin C resulted in a robust eradication of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in in vitro experiments by blocking mitochondrial protein translation and ATP production from glycolysis. 2 The addition of azithromycin further boosted CSC clearance. 2 Sargiacomo et al also proposed the use of doxycycline or azithromycin in COVID-19. 6 Their concept assumes that SARS-COV-2 prefers chronologically aged, senescent lung cells for binding and replication causing stormy inflammation and subsequent fibrosis suggesting the application of senolytic drugs such as doxycycline to prevent fibrotic transformation. 6 I believe that a combined approach regarding CSC elimination 2 In vitro very low concentration of doxycyclin is able to block mitochondria 2 and this antiinflammatory dose is approved up to a 12-month use in rosacea 9 so a prolonged course together with vitamin C may also be an inexpensive, safe and promising approach in antiviral prophylaxis and treatment.

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Doxycycline, a widely used antibiotic in dermatology with a possible anti-inflammatory action against IL-6 in COVID-19 outbreak

Azithromycin and Vitamin C (DAV): A potent combination therapy for targeting mitochondria and eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs)

Oncogenic virus-induced aerobic glycolysis and tumorigenesis

Mitochondrial dynamics and viral infections: A close nexus

The antiviral properties of vitamin C

COVID-19 and chronological aging: senolytics and other anti-aging drugs for the treatment or prevention of corona virus infection?

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Mitochondrial function in immune cells in health and disease

Beneficial effects of ascorbic acid to treat lung fibrosis induced by paraquat

The use of oral antibiotics in the management of rosacea