Treatment of COVID-19-Induced Systematic Inflammatory Response and Multiple Organ Failure Using Xuebijing

Abstract

ABSTRACT According to clinical studies, patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a high incidence of cytokine storm and thrombosis. The National Health Commission of China approved Xuebijing (XBJ) as a first-line Chinese medicinal injection for COVID-19 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and/or multiple organ failure (MOF). We hypothesized that the therapeutic effect of XBJ on SIRS and MOF in COVID-19 occurs via immunothrombosis and employed network pharmacology to evaluate this potential mechanism. The chemical compounds in XBJ were retrieved, and proteins related to thrombotic diseases were screened. Further, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of the antithrombotic targets of XBJ was conducted. The results highlight the key inter-players (neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and platelets) of immunothrombosis in COVID-19 and the potential therapeutic mechanism of XBJ in suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and platelet aggregation. Severe COVID-19 patients with SIRS and MOF may benefit from XBJ as it exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, inhibits platelet activation, and induces lymphocyte apoptosis.