Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention Journal of Preventive Epidemiology 2476-3934 6 1 2021 01 01 Inhibiting inflammasome; the possible mechanisms of action of azithromycin against COVID-19? e10 e10 10.34172/jpe.2021.10 EN Ali Saeedi-Boroujeni https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6167-1412 Mohammad Bahadoram https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7106-9799 Bijan Keikhaei Mohammad-Reza Mahmoudian-Sani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1096-5661 Azadeh Khayyat Mohammad Ali Esmaeilpour Journal Article 10.34172/jpe.2021.10 2021 05 02 2021 06 07 Cytokine storm and destructive inflammation in the severe form of COVID-19 lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI), and dysfunction of several different body organs in patients. SARS-CoV-2 contains all inflammasome-activating proteins belonging to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV viruses. Macrolides are known to possess immunomodulatory properties. Given the desirable results of azithromycin treatment for patients with a severe case of COVID-19, based on studies, it could be concluded that the immunomodulatory properties of azithromycin to inhibit inflammasome can help the treatment of patients with this disease.