Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has overwhelmed Healthcare Systems requiring
the rapid development of treatments, at least, to reduce COVID-19
severity. Drug repurposing offers a fast track. Here, we discuss the
potential beneficial effects of statins in COVID-19 patients based on
evidence that they may target virus receptors, replication, degradation
and downstream responses in infected cells, addressing both basic
research and epidemiological information. Briefly, statins could act
modulating virus entry, acting on the SARS-CoV-2 receptors, ACE2 and
CD147, and/or lipid rafts engagement. Statins, by inducing autophagy
activation, could regulate virus replication or degradation, exerting
protective effects. The well-known anti-inflammatory properties of
statins, by blocking several molecular mechanisms, including NF-κB and
NLRP3 inflammasome, could limit the “cytokine storm” in severe
COVID-19 patients which is linked to fatal outcome. Finally, statin
moderation of coagulation response activation may also contribute to
improve COVID-19 outcomes.