Identification of potential drug targets for COVID 19 patients with cytokine storm

Abstract

The outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection may vary depending on gender, lifestyle, and age. The elderly is more likely to have the severe condition than the younger population. However, several young people suffer from severe lung diseases caused by cytokine dysregulation, also known as a "cytokine storm." Cytokine storms are associated with Covid-19 severity and mortality. Identification of potential cytokine storm targets is critical for improving patient survival. Transcriptomic analysis of expression data from publicly available databases could be used to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways. The list of both results was used to narrow down the potential candidates in the co-expression network and immune cell fraction analysis. In addition, the drug-gene interaction database was queried for information on the candidate's draggability. According to the findings, AMHR2 is a potential drug target. AMHR2 overexpression may cause the TGF beta signaling pathway to becoming overactive, resulting in the activation of pro-inflammatory macrophages and a delay in the adaptive immune response. This systemic effect may initiate the cytokine storm that the infection has started in the lung, activating pro-inflammatory macrophages and T gamma delta cells that secrete cytokines excessively. Furthermore, AMHR2 has evidence of drug modulation and demonstrates pathway regulatory importance. Therefore, inhibiting the TGF beta signaling pathway via AMHR2 may be beneficial in relieving cytokine storms in Covid 19 patients.