![Taste and smell loses in HIV infected patients [869x1982 - 841KB]](https://pic8.co/sh/cAR1xQ.jpg){kind=link}
Taste and smell loss is a sign of zinc depletion. Zinc is crucial for normal development and function of cells mediating innate immunity, neutrophils, and NK cells. Macrophages also are affected by zinc deficiency. Phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and cytokine production all are affected by zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency adversely affects the growth and function of T and B cells. Acute infection is a major cause of zinc depletion.
Wasn’t that the mechanism behind HCQ, that it is basically zinc paired with something that allows it penetrate the membrane of a cell?
That's correct. HCQ is a zinc ionophore, meaning it shuttles zinc into the cell, and there’s compelling evidence to suggest the primary benefit of the HCQ protocol actually comes from the zinc, which effectively inhibits viral replication. HCQ conveys zinc intracellularly to block the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is the core enzyme of the virus replication.
You are very close. HCQ is what let the zinc into the cell. It's a zinc ionophore.
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