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Zhang D, Zhao Y, You X, He S, Li E. Repurposing Axl Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0148722. [PMID: 36853000 PMCID: PMC10019287 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01487-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection persists as a common pathogen of pulmonary infection in infants and in the elderly with high morbidity and mortality. However, no specific therapeutics are available. Axl, a member of the TAM (Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk) family receptor kinases, is a pleiotropic inhibitor of the innate immune response and functions as a negative regulator of interferon pathway activation. In this report, we investigated Axl inhibitors for their effects against RSV infection. Axl inhibition with kinase inhibitors, including BMS-777607, R428, and TP-0903, or Axl ablation resulted in a significant reduction of RSV infection in cell-based assays. In an animal model of pulmonary RSV infection, treatment with BMS-777607, R428, or TP-0903 ameliorated pulmonary pathology with a significant reduction of RSV titers in the lung tissues and, consequently, decreased the expression of proinflammatory genes. The host promotes ISG expression for the antiviral response and for viral clearance. We found that Axl inhibition led to more robust IFN-β expression and antiviral gene induction. Thus, the results of this study imply that Axl kinase inhibitors may possess a broad spectrum of antiviral effects by promoting ISG expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanhui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Yancheng Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Yancheng People's 1st Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoxin You
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Susu He
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Yancheng Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Yancheng People's 1st Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Erguang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Medical Virology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China
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Rokavec M, Huang Z, Hermeking H. Meta-analysis of miR-34 target mRNAs using an integrative online application. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 21:267-274. [PMID: 36582442 PMCID: PMC9764205 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the microRNA-34/miR-34 family are induced by the p53 tumor suppressor and themselves possess tumor suppressive properties, as they inhibit the translation of mRNAs that encode proteins involved in processes, such as proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Here we performed a comprehensive integrative meta-analysis of multiple computational and experimental miR-34 related datasets and developed tools to identify and characterize novel miR-34 targets. A miR-34 target probability score was generated for every mRNA to estimate the likelihood of representing a miR-34 target. Experimentally validated miR-34 targets were strongly enriched among mRNAs with the highest scores providing a proof of principle for our analysis. We integrated the results from the meta-analysis in a user-friendly METAmiR34TARGET website (www.metamir34target.com/) that allows to graphically represent the meta-analysis results for every mRNA. Moreover, the website harbors a screen function, which allows to select multiple miR-34-related criteria/analyses and cut-off values to facilitate the stringent and comprehensive prediction of relevant miR-34 targets in expression data obtained from cell lines and tumors/tissues. Furthermore, information on more than 200 miR-34 target mRNAs, that have been experimentally validated so far, has been integrated in the web-tool. The website and datasets provided here should facilitate further investigation into the mechanisms of tumor suppression by the p53/miR-34 connection and identification of potential cancer drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaz Rokavec
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany,Corresponding authors at: Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Thalkirchner Strasse 36, D-80337 Munich, Germany.
| | - Zekai Huang
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany
| | - Heiko Hermeking
- Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Germany,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany,Corresponding authors at: Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Thalkirchner Strasse 36, D-80337 Munich, Germany.
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