Preprint THE RELEVANCE OF OXYTOCIN & DYNORPHIN IN COVID-19: TOWARDS A...

Abstract: 5 With more than 72 million worldwide recorded cases of COVID-19 so far in 2020, 1.2 million deaths and more than 43 million people recovering from the virus, there a huge risk of further viral spread and mortalities, as well as severe health issues emerging in many survivors. This paper explores the COVID-19 infection mechanism and pathology from a dynorphin and oxytocin neuropeptide framework, and explores the angiotensin system, µ-10 opioid receptor, post viral pathology, and seasonal depression in a literature review and analysis. We details the many factors leading to the well documented elevated pre-infection levels of dynorphin surrounding COVID-19 which may predispose individuals to the virus and detail how oxytocin could be used as prophylactic antiviral, as well as treatment for during and after COVID-19 infection to reduce mortality and residual pathology. Vitamin D 15 and anti-dynorphin agents (hypothetically identified within the actoprotector class) are identified as possible candidates for co-application with oxytocin in a synergistic manner. Furthermore, the paper identifies possible applicability of oxytocin and oxytocin-dynorphin axis adjusting combinations for HIV, which down-regulates the oxytocin receptor and suppresses the immune system. Lastly, the neuropeptides oxytocin and dynorphin are raised 20 as potential biomarkers of disease risk, and assays that can rapidly screen populations for oxytocin and dynorphin levels are proposed, and requires further development.

Preprint The Oxytocin-Dynorphin Axis

COVID-19 more severely affects people who suffer from a cluster of conditions such as 5 obesity, old age, diabetes, anxiety, addiction and inflammation1, highlighting a potential link between these conditions. This paper explores these links focusing on dynorphins, which is a neuropeptide group heavily involved in pathologies both physical and mental, and oxytocin, a health promoting neuropeptide co-located with dynorphin in magnocellular neurons. In this paper we show how the antagonistic and autoinhibiting effects dynorphin and oxytocin have 10 on each other form an axis, influencing pathology and phenotypic expression between illness and health.

These preprints need urgent peer review - highly relevant to COVID-19 - any help, comment or link appreciated!