Abstract:
COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and has become an urgent economic and
health challenge. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), also mentioned as a cluster of differentiation 26 (CD26) is a serine exopeptidase found in two arrangements: a soluble form (sDPP-4) and a plasma membrane-bound form. Because other coronaviruses enter the cells by binding to DPP-4, it has been speculated that DPP-4 inhibitors may
exert activity against COVID-19. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the potential therapeutic effect of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors in diabetic patients diagnosed with COVID-19. To include different studies, publications related to Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor use and clinical outcomes from COVID-19 were searched
from the databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS, via English
key terms. A direct engrossment of DPP4 in COVID-19 needs to be elucidated, there is also evidence confirming
that DPP4 inhibitors exert anti-fibrotic and modulate inflammation activity. Thus, the use of DPP-4 inhibitors
could reduce mortality due to COVID-19 or improve the progression of COVID-19; this evidence may support the
management of diabetic patients diagnosed with COVID-19; however more well-designed investigation is urgently required.
