by Lance Corporal (Rtd) Patrick Otto

I have heard some people claiming that chloroquine (CQ) cures COVID-19. That’s exactly incorrect. I have heard others accurately stating that it is only supportive, doing so by stabilising the red blood cells. CQ is indeed for supportive treatment but has nothing to do directly with red blood cells.

CQ impairs some pH-dependent steps of coronavirus replication but that’s still an academic matter. For practical purposes of therapeutics, its action is not considered to be directly anti-viral.

CQ is immunomodulatory and immunomodulation is to do with curbing the enthusiasm and excitement, and at times, the wasi wasi of the white blood cells also called the leucocytes.

Let me explain in the terms that I understand very well at my level as a Retired Lance Corporal.

You know, when the body is under any sort of attack, the locally present leucocytes (village LDUs or local defence units) start shooting; but also, to avoid being overrun, they make an alarm so that neighbouring LDUs and police and army can bring in reinforcements.

The alarm, the kangabajje or the nduulu by the local leucocytes is in form of chemicals which they release to attract other cells. They send a signal message. They release what are called “cell signalling molecules”…CSMs; almost as in “Company Sergeant Majors”.

In fact many body cells release such signalling molecules, Sergeant Majors, for mobilising other cells into action, yelling all the time, “fall in, fall in”. The molecules are collectively called cytokines as in “cyto”: cell; “kine”: kinesis/kinetic or movement/mobilisation.

Now, the signalling molecules, the kangabajje/alarm sent by leucocytes to attract other leucocytes is called an “interleukin”, meaning: ‘inter’ as in among: “leuk” as in white cells; “kin” as in kinetic…move/mobilise.

So interleukin is inter-LDU mobilisation signal molecule. The particular interleukin that attracts battalions of LDUs to come to an invaded corner of the body is interleukin 6; and I think 8 also and another one called 1 bravo and tumour necrosis factor alpha. When those CSMs are released, they attract battalions of other white cells into the attacked village to ward off the invader: T and B cells, monocytes, macrophages, killer cells, dendritic cells etc .

Those battalions also release their own Sergeant Majors, in some kind of positive feedback accounting for the inflammatory reaction; and in the lungs all spaces get inundated by the mobilised soldiers…and yelling Sergeant Majors in all the village paths, slums etc. Some of the visiting cells are called the APCs, Armoured Personnel Carriers,….the Antigen Presenting Cells…part of the CMI, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence….or Cell-mediated Immunity….

So, anyway, what CQ does is to calm down the local leucocytes, the LDUs, lower the volume of their alarm, tell them not to release too many cytokines and therefore not excite other units to send excessive reinforcements. CQ tells the LDUs, “chill! You can manage on your own”. CQ shuts down the interleukins.

The bodily state in which there are high levels of cytokines, CSMs (e.g. interleukins) is also called the “cytokine storm”, a dangerous state of panic which characterises the severely ill covid 19 patient: fever, breathlessness, hypoxia or low bodily oxygen, general organ dysfunction/failure. CQ is a storm breaker. It adjusts/regulates/balances or modulates the immune response in favour local forces, Home Guards and LDUs of the Home or Humoral Immunity; against the APCs of the CMI which tend to overwhelm local capacity.

In the process of course the red cells will do their work and have space to unload carbon dioxide and load oxygen since the alleys and paths and panyas in the village (capillaries and arterioles and venules) will not be overcrowded.

Briefly, that’s the chloroquine operation in covid-impacted bodies.

NB: CQ immunomodulates in covid exactly the same way it does in Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis…calming down the immune system.