A perspective study of the possible impact of obeticholic acid against SARS-CoV-2 infection

The causative agent of CoV disease 2019 is a new coronavirus CoV type 2, affecting the respiratory tract with severe manifestations (SARS-CoV-2). Covid-19 is mainly symptomless, with slight indications in about 85% of the affected cases. Many efforts were done to face this pandemic by testing different drugs and agents to make treatment protocols in different countries. However, the use of these proposed drugs is associated with the development of adverse events. Remarkably, the successive development of SARS-CoV-2 variants which could affect persons even they were vaccinated, prerequisite wide search to find efficient and safe agents to face SARS-CoV-2 infection. Obeticholic acid (OCA), which has anti-inflammatory effects, may efficiently treat Covid-19. Thus, the goal of this perspective study is to focus on the possible medicinal effectiveness in managing Covid-19. OCA is a powerful farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist possessing marked antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. FXR is dysregulated in Covid-19 resulting in hyper-inflammation with concurrent occurrence of hypercytokinemia. Interestingly, OCA inhibits the reaction between this virus and angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) receptors. FXR agonists control the expression of ACE2 and the inflammatory signaling pathways in this respiratory syndrome, which weakens the effects of Covid-19 disease and accompanied complications. Taken together, FXR agonists like OCA may reveal both direct and indirect impacts in the modulation of immune reaction in SARS-CoV-2 conditions. It is highly recommended to perform many investigations regarding different phases of the discovery of new drugs.