2-Deoxy-D-Glucose and COVID-19
Author(s): Rachana Gupta, Lokesh Vaishnav, Shiv Joshi, Abhishek Joshi* and Ashok Mehendale
Abstract
Viral infections are difficult to treat because of the viruses' complex structure and metabolism. They can also hijack the metabolism of the host cell, mutate and adapt to harsh environmental conditions. SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus, has considerably more resistant characteristics, making eradication even more challenging.
Following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a third highly pathogenic coronavirus, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged at the end of 2019, causing a pandemic, increased panic and drew worldwide attention. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a highly diverse family of enveloped positive sense single stranded RNA viruses. Because viruses require substrates and energy from the host for their construction and replication, taking advantage of the increased glycolytic flow for these functions could be a key aspect of viral infections.
SARS-CoV-2 virus can be stopped from replicating by reducing the substrates available for structural integration. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose is one such molecule that limits substrate availability and has recently gained a lot of attention (2-DG) infection with SARS-CoV-2 cause’s glycolysis, reduces mitochondrial activity and damages infected cells. 2-DG administration can stop viral replication by inhibiting enhanced glycolytic flux and other metabolic activities. The drug can have adverse effects on different systems of body as it affects the normal metabolism of the cells because it targets cells non-selectively, in a dose dependent manner. This article gives information about the mechanism of action of 2-Deoxy-d-glucose on the virus and host cell and its use in this pandemic.