Author: Merentsova Anastasia
Translator: Issabayeva Madina
Copy editors: Kigbaeva Kamila, Issabayeva Madina
It is known that it is not the virus itself that is frightening, but its damaging effects on organs and tissues that make it more difficult for people with chronic diseases and elderly people to carry the infection.
Researchers from the Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosova, in an experiment with mice, it was proved that the injection into the blood of an antioxidant SkQ, which destroys free radicals, is able to prevent damage to vessels arising from «panic» immunity at COVID-19.
Because the agent not only slows down the aging process, but also obtains an inflammatory response when the cytokines - the pro-inflammatory molecules - are released into the blood. This substance prevents the immune system from attacking healthy tissues, thereby reducing the likelihood of internal organ damage, clots and strokes.
According to the experience of laboratory rats infected with coronavirus, half of the animals were given antioxidant SkQ, the control group got nothing. The result was staggering: all the rats that were not injected died; among those who received antioxidant, only 20% of the animals died.
Why is there such a difference? It is known that in response to the penetration of infectious agents, the organism produces cytokines whose field of activity is endothelium (a layer of cells lining the internal surface of blood vessels). The effect of this action is the increased permeability of the vascular wall, which makes it possible to allow the "working elements" of the immunity in the blood to pass through the tissue.
This is a normal reaction of the organism, but when the cytokines become too numerous, the process leads to too much vascular permeability, which is typical for severe cases of COVID-19. This phenomenon is called a cytokine storm - in a matter of hours and sometimes minutes, an organism that suddenly discovers a huge number of "enemies" triggers "panic".
As a result of this reaction, swelling occurs in different parts of the body. But the biggest threat to life is the same process occurring in the lungs. It’s called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). When large amounts of cytokines appear in the blood, an entire reaction cascade is triggered in the endothelium cells. But to activate the genes needed to dissect the endothelial cells requires a surge of free radicals in mitochondria (power stations). Skq antioxidant penetrates the mitochondria and removes free radicals from them, thus preventing harmful effects of RDS on the vessels.
In conclusion, it is likely that the use of this agent in the treatment of COVID-19, especially severe cases, will reduce the number of fatalities.
Source: https://iz.ru/1021384/
