TITLE:
Non-Carcinogenic Genotoxic Drugs Could Be Used to Prevent and Treat COVID-19
AUTHORS:
Gao-De Li
KEYWORDS:
Three-Dimensional Genome Structure, Non-Carcinogenic Genotoxic Drugs, Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.7 No.7,
July
8,
2020
ABSTRACT: Three-dimensional (3D) genome structure plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Alteration of 3D genome structure can change cell’s gene expression pattern that causes cellular function change and thus could be used as a novel therapy for treating many diseases including COVID-19. Genotoxic drug is the only drug that could be used to alter 3D genome structure. Since at present no purpose-made non-carcinogenic genotoxic drugs for altering genome structure are available and fighting COVID-19 must be done without delay, it is possible to repurpose some old drugs as non-carcinogenic genotoxic drugs that can be used to reduce target cell’s susceptibility to SARS- CoV-2 which causes COVID-19 and to modulate immune cell’s response to SARS-CoV-2 infection through altering 3D genome structures in target cells and immune cells.