Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 04, 2025 1 day, 19 hours, 55 minutes ago
Medical News: A Surprising Ally in the Fight Against COVID-19
A new scientific review led by researchers from Taibah University (Saudi Arabia), Mustansiriyah University and Jabir ibn Hayyan Medical University (Iraq), Sinai University and Damanhour University (Egypt), University of Witten-Herdecke (Germany), Chandigarh University (India), and Funogen (Greece), has uncovered compelling evidence that a common neurotransmitter called GABA could play a powerful role in controlling COVID-19 inflammation and immune complications.
New Potential Treatment Route for COVID-19 Found in Common Brain Chemical GABA
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is best known as the brain’s calming chemical—it slows down signals in the nervous system. But new research suggests it may also be key in calming the dangerous immune overreactions seen in COVID-19 patients. This
Medical News report reveals how GABA and its related compounds may be able to reduce the deadly cytokine storms and lung damage that severe COVID-19 often causes.
COVID-19 and the Inflammation Storm
Most people with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms, but in around 15 percent of cases, things take a dangerous turn. What makes the disease deadly in some is not just the virus itself, but the body’s exaggerated immune response. Overactive T cells and macrophages flood the body with inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, triggering what’s known as a “cytokine storm.” This inflammation can lead to acute lung injury (ALI), respiratory failure, and multiple organ damage.
Scientists have found that the virus interferes with the body’s natural inflammatory controls by binding to the ACE2 protein, a key regulator in the body’s immune and blood pressure systems. With ACE2 out of commission, harmful substances like angiotensin II build up and further drive inflammation.
GABA’s Anti-Inflammatory Superpowers
The researchers highlighted how GABA works beyond the brain. Immune cells like T cells and macrophages actually carry GABA receptors, meaning they can be directly influenced by GABA. In lab and animal studies, GABA and GABA agonists (substances that activate GABA receptors) were found to inhibit two of the most destructive inflammatory pathways in COVID-19—the NF-κB signaling pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome.
These pathways are responsible for amplifying inflammation and recruiting more immune cells to the lungs, leading to severe respiratory damage. When GABA agonists were used, inflammation dropped, macrophage infiltration was reduced in the lungs, and oxidative stress was lowered. Essentially, GABA appears to help stop the immune system from overreacting to the virus.
Proof from Patient Studies and Animal Trials
The study included data from both animal and human trials. In one study involving 686 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, those treated with the GABA-activating drug diazepam showed improved outcomes and lower death rates. Other r
esearch using mouse models of COVID-19 showed that GABA agonists not only reduced viral replication, but also protected the lungs from inflammation and damage.
Interestingly, the scientists found that COVID-19 patients tend to have lower levels of GABA in their blood—and those with the lowest levels often had the most severe illness. This raises the possibility that restoring GABA balance could be a powerful treatment strategy.
Why GABA May Be a Safer Anti-Inflammatory Option
Many current treatments for severe COVID-19 focus on suppressing inflammation, but they can also weaken the immune system and delay virus clearance. GABA may offer a better option. It seems to calm the immune system without completely shutting it down. However, researchers caution that some GABA agonists, like benzodiazepines, can cause drowsiness or interact with other medications. More studies in humans are needed to fine-tune dosing and safety.
Conclusion
The findings from this multi-national review suggest that GABA and its agonists have enormous untapped potential in managing the immune chaos of COVID-19. By targeting key inflammatory pathways like NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome, GABAergic compounds may help prevent cytokine storms, protect the lungs, and support recovery. While further human trials are needed, the evidence so far points to GABA as a promising addition to the COVID-19 treatment toolkit. With careful development, GABA-based therapies could offer a low-risk, high-reward strategy for reducing the severity of COVID-19, especially in high-risk patients.
Future studies will be crucial in determining which GABA agonists are most effective and how they can be safely incorporated into clinical practice.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Cytokine
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043466625001231
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