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Inflammation Research

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01-01-2021 | Famotidine | Review

Histamine receptors and COVID-19

Authors: Madeleine Ennis, Katerina Tiligada

Published in: Inflammation Research | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Objective

Reports that the over-the-counter histamine H₂ receptor antagonist famotidine could help treat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) appeared from April 2020. We, therefore, examined reports on interactions between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and histamine receptor antagonists.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed by 19 September 2020, and updated on 28 October 2020, in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar using (COVID-19 OR coronavirus OR SARS-CoV-2) AND (histamine antagonist OR famotidine OR cimetidine). ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for COVID-19 and (famotidine or histamine).

Results

Famotidine may be a useful addition in COVID-19 treatment, but the results from prospective randomized trials are as yet awaited. Bioinformatics/drug repurposing studies indicated that, among several medicines, H₁ and H₂ receptor antagonists may interact with key viral enzymes. However, in vitro studies have to date failed to show a direct inhibition of famotidine on SARS-CoV-2 replication.

Conclusions

Clinical research into the potential benefits of H₂ receptor antagonists in managing COVID-19 inflammation began from a simple observation and now is being tested in multi-centre clinical trials. The positive effects of famotidine may be due to H₂ receptor-mediated immunomodulatory actions on mast cell histamine–cytokine cross-talk, rather than a direct action on SARS-CoV-2.

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Title: Histamine receptors and COVID-19
Authors: Madeleine Ennis
Katerina Tiligada
Publication date: 01-01-2021
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Famotidine
Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonist
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Published in: Inflammation Research / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 1023-3830
Electronic ISSN: 1420-908X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-020-01422-1

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