Thread by @ElardKoch

One of the most effective clinically proven CCR5 chemokine receptor antagonists is #Leronlimab.

Why is this drug really a "game changer" in severe COVID-19?

I will try to explain it in a short thread

https://twitter.com/Anonymous_0004/status/1422538426100891661

Briefly, CCR5 is a chemokine receptor able to bind to key leukocyte recruitment factors such as macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES (T-cell secreted CCL5), thus, regulating leucocyte trafficking to normal and inflamed tissues.
nature.com/articles/nrneu…

In many pathological situations, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis or graft rejection, CCR5 expressing cells, such as effector T cells, are found in great numbers into the inflammation sites, where CCR5 binding chemokines are produced
linkedin.com/posts/elard-s-…

Furthermore, in most several inflammatory conditions, CCR5‐expressing immune cells are recruited from the blood across the vascular endothelium. They participate in the inflammatory reaction, thus maintaining and potentially worsening the situation.
nature.com/articles/ni120…

The most abundant CCR5 ligand in the plasma, and a key player in severe inflammation is CCL5 (RANTES), produced by CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, epithelial cells, fibroblast, and platelets. It promotes leucocyte infiltration to sites of inflammation
link.springer.com/referenceworke…

Increased CCL5-CCR5 has been linked with a wide range of inflammatory disorders, including RA, allogeneic transplant rejection, atopic dermatitis, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, severe airways disorders; and malignancies
nature.com/articles/s4158…

Therefore, the level of expression of the CCR5 at the surface of T cells determines their migratory capacity in response to viral infection. In other words, a high cell surface density of CCR5 determines a worse course of COVID-19. #Leronlimab just interferes in this key process.