It has been about two years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which is unprecedented for the developed world, the appropriate vaccines have been found and the first drugs are already available, but the mechanism of action of the coronavirus and the cause of COVID disease has not yet been fully elucidated. 19. Understandably, the elucidation of the mechanism of action of a pathological condition is of paramount importance for its absolutely successful treatment, even if there have been some ways of partial treatment.
In November 2021, a peer-reviewed article by the University of Minnesota and the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System System in Minneapolis was published in the journal Clinical and Applied Thrombosis / Hemostasis entitled “Review of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) as a Potential Factor in morbidity and mortality associated with severe COVID-19 disease “(A Review of Platelet-Activating Factor As a Potential Contributor to Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Severe COVID-19).
This article, in the context of the investigation of the possible mechanism of action of the coronavirus, refers to the role of inflammatory agents and in particular of PAF noting the similarities of the biological actions of PAF with the clinical complications that occur in severe COVID-19 disease. It concludes that dysfunctions and / or deregulation of PAF metabolism by the coronavirus can cause these pathological conditions.
This new approach to elucidating the mechanism of action of the coronavirus through the action of PAF has been the subject of study, since 2020, of the research team consisting of the Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry & Food Chemistry of the Department of Chemistry of the University of Athens Κ.Α. Dimopoulos, the Professor of Biochemistry of the Department of Dietetics-Nutrition Science of Harokopio University S. Antonopoulou, the Head of the Department of Clinical Nutrition at GNA Korgialenio – Benakeio Dr. P. Detopoulou and Professor at Tufts University in Boston Theochari Theocharidis.
With 5 publications made in scientific journals in the period 2020 – 2021 by the Greek team, it has been described (through this new approach with the involvement of PAF) a possible biochemical course scientifically integrated and bibliographically documented which completes the mechanism of entry virus in cells, but also explains the complications of COVID-19 disease.
The potential beneficial effects of PAF inhibitors are also highlighted, suggesting the Mediterranean diet (which is rich in PAF inhibitors) as an appropriate protective diet.
It should be noted that the structure of the most powerful inflammatory factor PAF has been discovered by K.A. Dimopoulos in 1979 at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
This article by American teachers not only accepts what the Greek team has already published about PAF’s involvement in COVID-19 disease (citing the relevant publications of the Greek team) but also reinforces, confirms and argues for everything it has published about The Greek team also attributes this issue to PAF inhibitors and potentially beneficial pharmacological action.
So far, the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on COVID-19 have been demonstrated by experimental studies by universities in Europe and the Americas. The possible role of PAF in the mechanism of action of the coronavirus remains to be proven experimentally.
The issue, however, seems to be not the PAF involvement rate, but how it is involved, because if PAF is the “kick-off” for the side effects-morbidity of severe COVID-19, then this is important.
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