Enhanced Thymopoiesis as an Alternative Therapeutic Option for COVID-19

Abstract

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19 disease) has expanded worldwide. Currently, it is well known that advanced age is an independent predictor of mortality and severe clinical outcome, apart from other comorbidities [1]. Underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms that could explain the severe clinical outcome among elderly subjects are not well known [2], although it has been described that both immunosenescence and a low-level systemic inflammation (inflamm-aging) could also play a relevant role [3,4]. Now a days, apart from an effective vaccine development, research efforts are focused on therapeutic approaches that could minimize both the viral replication and the further inflammatory cascade driving to respiratory distress and multiorgan failure; however, up to now, no specific therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection has been established [5]. Awaiting for definitive and conclusive results from prospective clinical trials, antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs currently employed in SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects are based on their biological plausibility according to the mechanism of action or in vitro efficacy, but not in a definitive scientific evidences. Taken altogether, alternative hypothesis about underlying mechanisms driving to an impaired clinical outcome in COVID-19 disease are required. In this sense, even the universally accepted role of the cytokine storm has been questioned [6]. Hence, the greater hypothesis is considered the greater and more beneficial therapeutic options could be tested. Recently, our group has suggested that thymic dysfunction could play a relevant role in the impaired clinical outcome observed in elderly SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects [7]. Thus, the main objective of the present opinion paper is to explore a new therapeutic option for COVID-19 disease, based on enhancing thymic function.