Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[sokol]

Sigma-1 activation may blunt the Covid “Cytokines Storm” according to some research I did some weeks ago after reading the below mentioned article in the WSJ. However, I did not post this research because I felt we have a long way to go before we get to this. In any event, here is a bit of my research (numbered 1-4):

1. Inflammation is the major problem causing deaths in Covid -19 patients. It is sometimes referred to as the "cytokine storm". WSJ article "Haywire Immune Response Eyed in Coronavirus Deaths, Treatment - Researchers are looking at treatments to suppress ‘cytokine storm,’ increasingly linked to the most severe Covid-19 cases"

This virus adversely impacts the central nervous system and organs throughout the body. See for example: The Surprising Neuroscience of COVID-19 Effects on the central nervous system might contribute to respiratory failure.

2. Sigma Receptor 1 activation attenuates release of inflammatory cytokines MIP1?, MIP2, MIP3a and IL12 (p40/p70) by retinal Müller glial cells

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4451448/

3. Mapping the innate signaling cascade essential for cytokine storm during influenza virus infection

SIGNIFICANCE

Cytokine storm plays an essential and commanding role in the clinical outcome and pathogenesis of influenza virus infection. We previously documented that a small molecule that activates sphingosine-1-phosphate-1 receptor (S1P1R) signaling is primarily responsible for blunting cytokine storm to protect the infected host from the consequences of influenza infection. In the present study, we map host innate signaling pathways of cytokine storm and chart where along those pathways the drug is effective. We find that the efficacy of S1P1R agonist in blunting cytokine storm is through global inhibition downstream of myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 and IFN-ß promoter stimulator-1 signaling.

Keywords: pathology, pulmonary
ABSTRACT

During pathogenic influenza virus infection, robust cytokine production (cytokine storm), excessive inflammatory infiltrates, and virus-induced tissue destruction all contribute to morbidity and mortality. .....Here, we show that S1P1R agonist treatment suppresses global cytokine amplification. Importantly, S1P1R agonist treatment was able to blunt cytokine/chemokine production and innate immune cell recruitment in the lung independently of endosomal and cytosolic innate sensing pathways. S1P1R signaling suppression of cytokine amplification was independent of multiple innate signaling adaptor pathways for myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and IFN-ß promoter stimulator-1 signaling, indicating a common pathway inhibition of cytokine storm. ....

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956176/

4. These slides were used at the Anavex presentations in 2019:

http://www.arianapharma.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Anavex-Microbiota-Presentation-AAIC-July-2019-FINAL-1.pdf

See specifically the slide entitled: SIGMAR1 Restores Homeostasis Caused by Neuro-inflammation