Dantrolene repurposed to treat sepsis or septic shock and COVID-19 patients

H. Wei, G. Liang, R.M. Vera

Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Huafeng.wei@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

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• Infectious Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis via excessive and pathological Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and/or sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through ryanodine receptor (RyRs) Ca2+ channels play a critical role in the pathology of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and associated multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in sepsis or septic shock. Dantrolene, a potent inhibitor of RyRs, is expected to ameliorate SIRS and MODS and decrease mortality in sepsis or septic shock patients. This review summarized the potential mechanisms of therapeutic effects of dantrolene in sepsis or septic shock at molecular, cell, and organ levels and provided suggestions and strategies for future clinical studies.

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