Amlodipine downregulates gene expression that involved in the signaling pathways of coagulation process in COVID-19 patients: An observational clinical study

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has the property of activating the coagulation process, which is responsible for producing thrombotic events which is considered as one of the most serious COVID-19 complications. Hypertension is a hazard factor for COVID-19 complications, and people who are treated with calcium entry blockers may halt the occurrence of thrombotic events. to evaluate the effect of amlodipine on some genes involved in the activation of the coagulation procedure in COVID-19 patients with hypertensive. observational, cross-sectional study. This study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacy at Al-Kut University College in Wasit, Iraq, in conjunction with Al Zahraa Hospital from June 2021 to March 2022. A total of 45 COVID-19 patients participated in this study who were grouped into as follows: Group I (n = 23) who had no previous history of hypertension and Group II (n = 22) who had previous hypertension and were treated with amlodipine. Expression of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), coagulation factor V (F5), and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (NADP+ dependent) 1 Like (MTHFD1L) genes was determined. P values were calculated by Chi-square test for categorized facts and the Mann–Whitney test for incessant data. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Group II patients had significantly lower levels of CaSR, F5, and MTHFD1L gene expression compared with the corresponding levels in Group I patients. The expression level of MTHFD1L was elevated significantly in patients who had currently high blood pressure compared with normotensive patients in both the groups. Amlodipine is preferred in hypertensive patients who have COVID-19 because it attenuates the levels of gene expression that have an impact on the coagulation process.

Keywords

• amlodipine
• coagulation-related gene expression
• covid-19