The mechanism of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine and its application in stomatological diseases

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are both classic 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial drugs with similar chemical structures and mechanisms of action. As the toxicity and side effects of hydroxychloroquine are lower than those of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine is the main clinical application at present, with good efficacy and safety. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are widely used in the clinic because of their immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor and photoprotective effects. The main mechanisms by which chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine inhibits immunity include inhibiting lysosome activity, autophagy, immune response signaling pathways production of proinflammatory cytokines. Chloroquine stabilizes the lysosomal membrane and reduces the release of lysosomal enzymes. As a prostaglandin antagonist, chloroquine can reduce the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, thus playing an anti-inflammatory role. Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine can inhibit virus proliferation in the early stage of virus replication by inhibiting the glycosylation of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor. At present, hydroxychloroquine has been found to have significant efficacy in discoid lupus erythematosus, oral lichen planus, chronic cheilitis, pemphigus foliaceus, Sjögren′s syndrome and other stomatological diseases. However, eye damage is the most important adverse reaction of hydroxychloroquine, and its occurrence is related to the cumulative dose of drugs.