The Sound of Evolution
Chloroquine
氯喹
Mechanism of action:
Chloroquine 是一種 4-氨基喹啉類（4-aminoquinoline）衍生物。Chloroquine 主要作用於瘧原蟲寄生於紅血球時期（erythrocytic stage）的滋養體（trophozoite）階段。寄生蟲會分解宿主紅血球內的血紅素以取得胺基酸，血紅素分解產生的游離血基質（heme，Fe²⁺-protoporphyrin IX）具毒性（會產生自由基），寄生蟲會將其聚合成無毒的瘧色素（hemozoin）。Chloroquine 會與血基質結合形成複合物，阻斷血基質轉變成瘧色素。Chloroquine/血基質複合物與累積的有毒血基質會破壞寄生蟲細胞膜結構與多種細胞內分子，使寄生蟲死亡。
Reference(s):
1. Li C et al. (2017). Chloroquine, a FDA-approved drug, prevents Zika virus infection and its associated congenital microcephaly in mice. EBioMedicine.
2. Shiryaev SA et al. (2017). Repurposing of the anti-malaria drug chloroquine for Zika virus treatment and prophylaxis. Sci Rep.
3. Gao J et al. (2020). Breakthrough: Chloroquine phosphate has shown apparent efficacy in treatment of COVID-19 associated pneumonia in clinical studies. Biosci Trends.