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Short Communication - (2021) Volume 15, Issue 2

Miglustat: A Glycotransferase Inhibitor for Covid-19 Treatment

Dean Tatlow*

Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada

*Corresponding Author:
Dean Tatlow
Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
Tel: +18687678158
E-mail: tatlow16@hotmail.com

Received Date: February 08, 2021; Accepted Date: February 22, 2021; Published Date: February 26, 2021

Citation: Tatlow D (2021) Miglustat: A Glycotransferase Inhibitor for Covid-19 Treatment. Health Sci J. 15 No. 1: 807.

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Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) undergoes blood type specific glycosylation which has implications for infection susceptibility and replication without detection from the immune system. SARS-CoV-2 hijacks the host cell glycotransferase resulting in spike protein glycosylation resembling blood type antigens. Infection risk correlates to blood types that do not have anti-A and/or anti-B antibodies similar to that seen for ABO blood type recipients. The universal recipient AB is highly susceptible to infection lacking both anti-A and B antibodies, whereas blood type O has both antibodies resulting in less risk of infection. Once infected, SARS-CoV-2 obtains the blood type specific glycosylation of the host resulting in an effective camouflage against immune system recognition. Decoding the link between blood type and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility exposes a role for miglustat a glycosyltransferase inhibitor in treatment. Use of the FDA-approved glycosyltransferase inhibitor miglustat can inhibit spike protein glycosylation revealing the SARS-CoV-2 virus for immune system recognition.

Keywords

Miglustat; Covid-19; Treatment; Viral infection; SARS-CoV-2

Introduction

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV- 2) spike protein is the main protein used in many vaccines, revealing its importance in immune system recognition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A recent paper by Grant et al showed the SARS-CoV- 2 spike protein surface is highly shielded by glycans preventing antibody recognition [1]. Since the virus hijacks the host cellular machinery, spike protein glycosylation would obtain a host blood type glycan surface. As mentioned by Grant et al the viral glycan shield may be composed of familiar host glycans [1].Another study dealing with SARS-CoV-1 has indicated glycotransferase activity resulting in A antigen variant of the ABO blood group with anti-A antibodies able to cause virus neutralization [2]. Infection susceptibility may therefore be related to the ABO blood type recipients, and once infected the SARS-CoV-2 would obtain the host cell glycosylated coat becoming blood type specific.

The ABO blood-type is determined by the type of glycosylation found on the surface of red blood cells. The enzymes responsible for blood type glycosylation are known as glycotransferases [2]. There are four possible blood types A, B, O and AB while the Rh system is either Rh positive or negative [3]. Blood-typing identifies individuals who are recipients and/or donors of red blood cells. Blood type recipients lack antibodies to donor red blood cells with AB+ known as universal recipients [3]. While donors lack either A and or B surface antigens glycosylation making O- individuals known as universal donors [3]. The relationship to blood type and covid-19 has been demonstrated by many papers with blood type O found to have a decreased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) [4- 6]. The impact of glycosylation on the ability of antibodies to bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein plays a role not only in infection susceptibility but also in replication without detection by the immune system.

In this paper a new antiviral mechanism of action is proposed for miglustat that is different from inhibition of receptor binding [7,8]. A main feature of SARS-Cov-2 is the avoidance of immune recognition by the protective glycan coat [1]. The mechanism of action purpose in this paper of miglustat is treatment of SAR-CoV- 2 by the removal of the protective glycan coat exposing the virus to immune system recognition (Figure 1). Miglustat is a FDA approved drug for the treatment of Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease type C because of its alpha-glucosidase inhibition [9]. Miglustat was shown to decrease the intracellular accumulation of glycosylcereride the glycolipid that accumulates in Gaucher disease. Side-effects with miglustat are common and included diarrhea, weight loss, gastrointestinal upset, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, constipation, headache, tremor, dizziness, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, visual problems, and memory loss [9]. Side-effects are manageable since treatment duration with miglustat may be between 3-10days to correlate with the viral replication window.

Discussion and Conclusion

The relationship of blood type susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection is a result of host cell blood type glycosylation of the virus [4-6]. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein obtains a similar glycan coat as red blood cells, and infection susceptibility becomes related to blood type recipients. An AB blood type is universally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 similar to the universal recipient status of AB whereas blood type O has less risk of infection. Reports have shown blood groups A or AB are at increased risk from SARS-CoV-2 infection versus those of blood group O an B [4-6]. These results correlated with those where AB and A have 100% to 88% susceptibility respectively to SARS-CoV-2, whereas blood-type B and O are less susceptible with 55% and 46%, respectively. The anti-A and anti-B antibodies of blood type O individuals provide a barrier to infection from A, B, and AB blood type individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, blood type O individuals can become infected by SARS-CoV-2 infected blood type O individuals. Once an individual is infected by SARS-CoV-2 they produce viruses with glycans matching the host blood type. The spike protein glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2, provides the virus with an effective camouflage against host immune system recognition [1]. A blood type O individual can thus infect a blood type A individual, with the resultant virus replication producing blood type A SARS-CoV-2. Blood type association with SARS-Cov-2 infection is underlined by virus hijacking host cell machinery enzymes involved in blood type glycosylation by glycotransferases indicating inhibition of these enzymes as a possible treatment for covid-19.

The evaluation of miglustat Covid-19 treatment effectiveness was previously investigated In Vitro revealing no impact in the disease [8]. In a paper by Nunes-Santos et al, miglustat treatment had no impact on receptor binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the ACE2 receptor [8]. In addition, although cytokine production was enhanced in both the miglustat treated spike protein and non-treated spike protein stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) there was no difference in cytokine production between them [8]. Understanding the relationship between blood type and SARS-Cov-2 infection susceptibility and replication without immune system recognition reveals a mechanism explaining asymptomatic and presymptomatic patients with coronavirus. In these patients no immune response has been initiated suggesting a lack of cytokine production. A study by Long et al confirms asymptomatic Covid-19 patients have no difference in cytokine production when compared to healthy individuals [9]. The In Vitro model of spike protein stimulation of PBMCs by Nunes-Santos et al does not reflect. In Vivo coronavirus infection, since In Vivo SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycosylation prevents immune system recognition [1]. Therefore, experiments revealing no difference in cytokine production with and without miglustat treatment are comparing two antigenic proteins. A proposed mechanism of action for miglustat in Covid-19 treatment is the inhibition of spike protein glycosylation resulting in SARS-CoV-2 recognition by the immune system. Evaluation of miglustat treatment for Covid-19 patients should illicit production of cytokines resulting in fever which will work as an early marker of treatment effectiveness. Finally, Covid-19 infected patients with Gaucher disease were initially suspected to be highly vulnerable to viral infection, however, reports have shown no hospitalization amongst this group [10,11]. Whether glycotransferase inhibitors are playing a role in decrease hospitalization of gaucher disease patients has yet to be determined [10,11]. Miglustat is a FDA approved medication for treatment of Gaucher disease at 100mg three times a day and Niemann-Pick Type C disease at 200mg three times day [12].

The implication of extensive SARS-CoV-2 glycosylation is seen in the increased severity of Covid-19 in diabetic patients with high hemoglobin A1C [13]. A study by Merzon et al showed pre-infected patients with a hemoglobin A1C of greater than 9% was a risk factor for Covid-19 severity [13]. As with diabetic individuals where high hemoglobin A1C results in more extensive glycosylation of red blood cells, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may be further glycosylated in this environment. Increased SARS-CoV- 2 spike protein glycosylation would lead to an improved virus glycan shield, providing an effective barrier against immune system recognition.

Acknowledgements

Thank-you Stanley Vindevoghel.

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References

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