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Zheng Y, Li Y, Li M, Wang R, Jiang Y, Zhao M, Lu J, Li R, Li X, Shi S. COVID-19 cooling: Nanostrategies targeting cytokine storm for controlling severe and critical symptoms. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:738-811. [PMID: 37990647 DOI: 10.1002/med.21997] [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: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants continue to wreak havoc worldwide, the "Cytokine Storm" (CS, also known as the inflammatory storm) or Cytokine Release Syndrome has reemerged in the public consciousness. CS is a significant contributor to the deterioration of infected individuals. Therefore, CS control is of great significance for the treatment of critically ill patients and the reduction of mortality rates. With the occurrence of variants, concerns regarding the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral drugs with a broad spectrum have grown. We should make an effort to modernize treatment strategies to address the challenges posed by mutations. Thus, in addition to the requirement for additional clinical data to monitor the long-term effects of vaccines and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, we can use CS as an entry point and therapeutic target to alleviate the severity of the disease in patients. To effectively combat the mutation, new technologies for neutralizing or controlling CS must be developed. In recent years, nanotechnology has been widely applied in the biomedical field, opening up a plethora of opportunities for CS. Here, we put forward the view of cytokine storm as a therapeutic target can be used to treat critically ill patients by expounding the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and CS and the mechanisms associated with CS. We pay special attention to the representative strategies of nanomaterials in current neutral and CS research, as well as their potential chemical design and principles. We hope that the nanostrategies described in this review provide attractive treatment options for severe and critical COVID-19 caused by CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mao Li
- Health Management Centre, Clinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rujing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuhong Jiang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Rui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Sanjun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Zendedel E, Tayebi L, Nikbakht M, Hasanzadeh E, Asadpour S. Clinical Trials of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of COVID 19. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:1055-1071. [PMID: 37815188 DOI: 10.2174/011574888x260032230925052240] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are being investigated as a treatment for a novel viral disease owing to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, tissue repair and regeneration characteristics, however, the exact processes are unknown. MSC therapy was found to be effective in lowering immune system overactivation and increasing endogenous healing after SARS-CoV-2 infection by improving the pulmonary microenvironment. Many studies on mesenchymal stem cells have been undertaken concurrently, and we may help speed up the effectiveness of these studies by collecting and statistically analyzing data from them. Based on clinical trial information found on clinicaltrials. gov and on 16 November 2020, which includes 63 clinical trials in the field of patient treatment with COVID-19 using MSCs, according to the trend of increasing studies in this field, and with the help of meta-analysis studies, it is possible to hope that the promise of MSCs will one day be realized. The potential therapeutic applications of MSCs for COVID-19 are investigated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Zendedel
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- Marquett University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Mohammad Nikbakht
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Hasanzadeh
- Immunogenetics Research Center, Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shiva Asadpour
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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El-Fakharany EM, El-Maradny YA, Ashry M, Abdel-Wahhab KG, Shabana ME, El-Gendi H. Green synthesis, characterization, anti-SARS-CoV-2 entry, and replication of lactoferrin-coated zinc nanoparticles with halting lung fibrosis induced in adult male albino rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15921. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42702-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe ethanolic extract of Coleus forskohlii Briq leaves was employed in the green synthesis of zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) by an immediate, one-step, and cost-effective method in the present study. Zn-NPs were coated with purified bovine lactoferrin (LF) and characterized through different instrumental analysis. The biosynthesized Zn-NPs were white in color revealing oval to spherical-shaped particles with an average size of 77 ± 5.50 nm, whereas LF-coated Zn-NPs (LF-Zn-NPs) revealed a larger particles size of up to 98 ± 6.40 nm. The biosynthesized Zn-NPs and LF-Zn-NPs revealed negatively charged surfaces with zeta-potentials of – 20.25 ± 0.35 and – 44.3 ± 3.25 mV, respectively. Interestingly, the LF-Zn-NPs showed potent in vitro retardation for SARS-CoV-2 entry to host cells by binding to the ACE2-receptor and spike protein receptor binding domain at IC50 values of 59.66 and μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the results indicated the ability of LF-Zn-NPs to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication by interfering with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase “RdRp” activity at IC50 of 49.23 μg/mL. In vivo, the LF-Zn-NPs displayed a protective and therapeutic activity against induced pulmonary fibrosis in Bleomycin-treated male albino rats owing to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and significant reduction in CRP, LDH, ferritin, and D-dimer levels. The obtained findings offer a promising route for biosynthesized Zn-NPs and LF-Zn-NPs as promising candidates against COVID-19.
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4
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El-Fakharany EM, El-Maradny YA, Ashry M, Abdel-Wahhab KG, Shabana ME, El-Gendi H. Green synthesis, characterization, anti-SARS-CoV-2 entry, and replication of lactoferrin-coated zinc nanoparticles with halting lung fibrosis induced in adult male albino rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15921. [PMID: 37741872 PMCID: PMC10518009 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42702-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The ethanolic extract of Coleus forskohlii Briq leaves was employed in the green synthesis of zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) by an immediate, one-step, and cost-effective method in the present study. Zn-NPs were coated with purified bovine lactoferrin (LF) and characterized through different instrumental analysis. The biosynthesized Zn-NPs were white in color revealing oval to spherical-shaped particles with an average size of 77 ± 5.50 nm, whereas LF-coated Zn-NPs (LF-Zn-NPs) revealed a larger particles size of up to 98 ± 6.40 nm. The biosynthesized Zn-NPs and LF-Zn-NPs revealed negatively charged surfaces with zeta-potentials of - 20.25 ± 0.35 and - 44.3 ± 3.25 mV, respectively. Interestingly, the LF-Zn-NPs showed potent in vitro retardation for SARS-CoV-2 entry to host cells by binding to the ACE2-receptor and spike protein receptor binding domain at IC50 values of 59.66 and μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the results indicated the ability of LF-Zn-NPs to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication by interfering with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase "RdRp" activity at IC50 of 49.23 μg/mL. In vivo, the LF-Zn-NPs displayed a protective and therapeutic activity against induced pulmonary fibrosis in Bleomycin-treated male albino rats owing to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and significant reduction in CRP, LDH, ferritin, and D-dimer levels. The obtained findings offer a promising route for biosynthesized Zn-NPs and LF-Zn-NPs as promising candidates against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmail M El-Fakharany
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt.
| | - Yousra A El-Maradny
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt
- Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Alamein, 51718, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Ashry
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
| | | | | | - Hamada El-Gendi
- Bioprocess Development Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt
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Zapata-Cardona MI, Florez-Alvarez L, Guerra-Sandoval AL, Chvatal-Medina M, Guerra-Almonacid CM, Hincapie-Garcia J, Hernandez JC, Rugeles MT, Zapata-Builes W. In vitro and in silico evaluation of antiretrovirals against SARS-CoV-2: A drug repurposing approach. AIMS Microbiol 2023; 9:20-40. [PMID: 36891537 PMCID: PMC9988408 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Drug repurposing is a valuable strategy for rapidly developing drugs for treating COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral effect of six antiretrovirals against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in silico. Methods The cytotoxicity of lamivudine, emtricitabine, tenofovir, abacavir, efavirenz and raltegravir on Vero E6 was evaluated by MTT assay. The antiviral activity of each of these compounds was evaluated via a pre-post treatment strategy. The reduction in the viral titer was assessed by plaque assay. In addition, the affinities of the antiretroviral interaction with viral targets RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), ExoN-NSP10 (exoribonuclease and its cofactor, the non-structural protein 10) complex and 3CLpro (3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease) were evaluated by molecular docking. Results Lamivudine exhibited antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 at 200 µM (58.3%) and 100 µM (66.7%), while emtricitabine showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at 100 µM (59.6%), 50 µM (43.4%) and 25 µM (33.3%). Raltegravir inhibited SARS-CoV-2 at 25, 12.5 and 6.3 µM (43.3%, 39.9% and 38.2%, respectively). The interaction between the antiretrovirals and SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, ExoN-NSP10 and 3CLpro yielded favorable binding energies (from -4.9 kcal/mol to -7.7 kcal/mol) using bioinformatics methods. Conclusion Lamivudine, emtricitabine and raltegravir showed in vitro antiviral effects against the D614G strain of SARS-CoV-2. Raltegravir was the compound with the greatest in vitro antiviral potential at low concentrations, and it showed the highest binding affinities with crucial SARS-CoV-2 proteins during the viral replication cycle. However, further studies on the therapeutic utility of raltegravir in patients with COVID-19 are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria I Zapata-Cardona
- Grupo Inmunovirologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Lizdany Florez-Alvarez
- Grupo Inmunovirologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellin, Colombia.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Mateo Chvatal-Medina
- Grupo Inmunovirologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellin, Colombia
| | | | - Jaime Hincapie-Garcia
- Grupo de investigacion, Promocion y prevencion farmaceutica, Facultad de ciencias farmaceuticas yalimentarias, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Juan C Hernandez
- Grupo Infettare, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Maria T Rugeles
- Grupo Inmunovirologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Wildeman Zapata-Builes
- Grupo Inmunovirologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellin, Colombia.,Grupo Infettare, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellin, Colombia
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Rao N, Poojari T, Poojary C, Sande R, Sawant S. Drug Repurposing: a Shortcut to New Biological Entities. Pharm Chem J 2022; 56:1203-1214. [PMCID: PMC9734433 DOI: 10.1007/s11094-022-02778-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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7
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Mukherjee T, Behl T, Sharma S, Sehgal A, Singh S, Sharma N, Mathew B, Kaur J, Kaur R, Das M, Aleya L, Bungau S. Anticipated pharmacological role of Aviptadil on COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:8109-8125. [PMID: 34846667 PMCID: PMC8630992 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17824-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide that is produced by the lymphoid cells and plays a major role in immunological functions for controlling the homeostasis of the immune system. VIP has been identified as a potent anti-inflammatory factor, in boosting both innate and adaptive immunity. Since December 2019, SARS-Cov-2 was found responsible for the disease COVID-19 which has spread worldwide. No specific therapies or 100% effective vaccines are yet available for the treatment of COVID-19. Drug repositioning may offer a strategy and several drugs have been repurposed, including lopinavir/ritonavir, remdesivir, favipiravir, and tocilizumab. This paper describes the main pharmacological properties of synthetic VIP drug (Aviptadil) which is now under clinical trials. A patented formulation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), named RLF-100 (Aviptadil), was developed and finally got approved for human trials by FDA in 2001 and in European medicines agency in 2005. It was awarded Orphan Drug Designation in 2001 by the US FDA for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome and for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in 2005. Investigational new drug (IND) licenses for human trials of Aviptadil was guaranteed by both the US FDA and EMEA. Preliminary clinical trials seem to support Aviptadil's benefit. However, such drugs like Aviptadil in COVID-19 patients have peculiar safety profiles. Thus, adequate clinical trials are necessary for these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuhin Mukherjee
- Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Tapan Behl
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.
| | - Sanchay Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Aayush Sehgal
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Sukhbir Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Neelam Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi, India
| | - Jasleen Kaur
- Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Ratandeep Kaur
- Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Mayukh Das
- Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono-Environment Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
| | - Simona Bungau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
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8
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Robins LI, Keim EK, Robins DB, Edgar JS, Meschke JS, Gafken PR, Williams JF. Modifications of IL-6 by Hypochlorous Acids: Effects on Receptor Binding. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:35593-35599. [PMID: 34984290 PMCID: PMC8717532 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory events including those seen with COVID-19 patients. Positive clinical responses to monoclonal antibodies directed against IL-6 receptors (IL-6Rs) suggest that interference with IL-6-dependent activation of pro-inflammatory pathways offers a useful approach to therapy. We exposed IL-6 to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in vitro at concentrations reported to develop in vivo. After HOCl treatment, binding of IL-6 to IL-6R was reduced in a dose-dependent manner using a bioassay with human cells engineered to provide a luminescence response to signal transduction upon receptor activation. Similar results followed the exposure of IL-6 to N-chlorotaurine (NCT) and hypobromous acid (HOBr), two other reactive species produced in vivo. SDS-PAGE analysis of HOCl-treated IL-6 showed little to no fragmentation or aggregation up to 1.75 mM HOCl, suggesting that the modifications induced at concentrations below 1.75 mM took place on the intact protein. Mass spectrometry of trypsin-digested fragments identified oxidative changes to two amino acid residues, methionine 161 and tryptophan 157, both of which have been implicated in receptor binding of the cytokine. Our findings suggest that exogenous HOCl and NCT might bring about beneficial effects in the treatment of COVID-19. Further studies on how HOCl and HOBr and their halogenated amine derivatives interact with IL-6 and related cytokines in vivo may open up alternative therapeutic interventions with these compounds in COVID-19 and other hyperinflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori I. Robins
- Department
of Physical Sciences, University of Washington
Bothell, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, Washington 98011, United States
- . Tel.: +1(425)352-3208
| | - Erika K. Keim
- Department
of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Deborah B. Robins
- Issaquah
High School, 700 2nd Ave SE, Issaquah, Washington 98027, United States
| | - John S. Edgar
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, H172 Health Science Building, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - John S. Meschke
- Department
of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Philip R. Gafken
- Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Jeffrey F. Williams
- Briotech
Inc., 14120 NE 200th
St, Woodinville, Washington 98072, United States
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Lee CY, Chen YPP. New Insights Into Drug Repurposing for COVID-19 Using Deep Learning. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL NETWORKS AND LEARNING SYSTEMS 2021; 32:4770-4780. [PMID: 34546931 PMCID: PMC8843052 DOI: 10.1109/tnnls.2021.3111745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued to spread worldwide since late 2019. To expedite the process of providing treatment to those who have contracted the disease and to ensure the accessibility of effective drugs, numerous strategies have been implemented to find potential anti-COVID-19 drugs in a short span of time. Motivated by this critical global challenge, in this review, we detail approaches that have been used for drug repurposing for COVID-19 and suggest improvements to the existing deep learning (DL) approach to identify and repurpose drugs to treat this complex disease. By optimizing hyperparameter settings, deploying suitable activation functions, and designing optimization algorithms, the improved DL approach will be able to perform feature extraction from quality big data, turning the traditional DL approach, referred to as a "black box," which generalizes and learns the transmitted data, into a "glass box" that will have the interpretability of its rationale while maintaining a high level of prediction accuracy. When adopted for drug repurposing for COVID-19, this improved approach will create a new generation of DL approaches that can establish a cause and effect relationship as to why the repurposed drugs are suitable for treating COVID-19. Its ability can also be extended to repurpose drugs for other complex diseases, develop appropriate treatment strategies for new diseases, and provide precision medical treatment to patients, thus paving the way to discover new drugs that can potentially be effective for treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yen Lee
- Department of Computer Science and Information TechnologyLa Trobe UniversityMelbourneVIC3086Australia
| | - Yi-Ping Phoebe Chen
- Department of Computer Science and Information TechnologyLa Trobe UniversityMelbourneVIC3086Australia
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10
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Tammam SN, El Safy S, Ramadan S, Arjune S, Krakor E, Mathur S. Repurpose but also (nano)-reformulate! The potential role of nanomedicine in the battle against SARS-CoV2. J Control Release 2021; 337:258-284. [PMID: 34293319 PMCID: PMC8289726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has taken the world by surprise. To date, a worldwide approved treatment remains lacking and hence in the context of rapid viral spread and the growing need for rapid action, drug repurposing has emerged as one of the frontline strategies in the battle against SARS-CoV2. Repurposed drugs currently being evaluated against COVID-19 either tackle the replication and spread of SARS-CoV2 or they aim at controlling hyper-inflammation and the rampaged immune response in severe disease. In both cases, the target for such drugs resides in the lungs, at least during the period where treatment could still provide substantial clinical benefit to the patient. Yet, most of these drugs are administered systemically, questioning the percentage of administered drug that actually reaches the lung and as a consequence, the distribution of the remainder of the dose to off target sites. Inhalation therapy should allow higher concentrations of the drug in the lungs and lower concentrations systemically, hence providing a stronger, more localized action, with reduced adverse effects. Therefore, the nano-reformulation of the repurposed drugs for inhalation is a promising approach for targeted drug delivery to lungs. In this review, we critically analyze, what nanomedicine could and ought to do in the battle against SARS-CoV2. We start by a brief description of SARS-CoV2 structure and pathogenicity and move on to discuss the current limitations of repurposed antiviral and immune-modulating drugs that are being clinically investigated against COVID-19. This account focuses on how nanomedicine could address limitations of current therapeutics, enhancing the efficacy, specificity and safety of such drugs. With the appearance of new variants of SARS-CoV2 and the potential implication on the efficacy of vaccines and diagnostics, the presence of an effective therapeutic solution is inevitable and could be potentially achieved via nano-reformulation. The presence of an inhaled nano-platform capable of delivering antiviral or immunomodulatory drugs should be available as part of the repertoire in the fight against current and future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma N. Tammam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt,Corresponding author
| | - Sara El Safy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Shahenda Ramadan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology, The German University in Cairo (GUC), 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sita Arjune
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Eva Krakor
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, , University of Cologne, Greinstraße 6, 50939 Cologne, Germany
| | - Sanjay Mathur
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, , University of Cologne, Greinstraße 6, 50939 Cologne, Germany
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11
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Jovanović JĐ, Antonijević M, El‐Emam AA, Marković Z. Comparative MD Study of Inhibitory Activity of Opaganib and Adamantane-Isothiourea Derivatives toward COVID-19 Main Protease M pro. ChemistrySelect 2021; 6:8603-8610. [PMID: 34909459 PMCID: PMC8662094 DOI: 10.1002/slct.202101898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the inhibitory potency of four adamantly- isothiourea derivatives (compounds 1 [4-bromobenzyl (Z)-N'-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-phenylpiperazine-1-carbothioimidate], 2 [3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl (Z)-N'-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-phenylpiperazine-1-carbothioimidate], 3 [4-bromobenzyl (Z)-N-(adamantan-1-yl)morpholine-4-carbothioimidate] and 4 [3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl (Z)-N-(adamantan-1-yl)morpholine-4-carbothioimidate]) was evaluated against SARS-CoV-2 targeted proteins. The investigated compounds 1-4 possess a similar structure to opaganib, which is used in studies like a potential drug for COVID-19 treatment. Since examined adamantly-isothiourea derivatives (1-4) shown broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity and significant in vitro cytotoxic effects against five human tumor cell lines and shown similarity in structure with opaganib, it was of interest to study their inhibitory potency toward some SARS-CoV-2 proteins such as SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro and mutation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein D614G. The inhibitory potency of studied compounds is examined using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. The results of molecular docking simulations indicate compound 1 as the most prominent candidate of inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro (▵Gbind=11.24 kcal/mol), while almost the same inhibition potency of all studied compounds is exhibited toward D614G. Regarding the results obtained by molecular dynamic simulations, compounds 1 and 4 possess similar inhibitory potency toward SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro as opaganib (▵Gbind ≈ 40 kcal/mol).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Đorović Jovanović
- Department of ScienceInstitute for Information TechnologiesUniversity of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb34000Kragujevac, Republic ofSerbia
| | - Marko Antonijević
- Department of ScienceInstitute for Information TechnologiesUniversity of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb34000Kragujevac, Republic ofSerbia
| | - Ali A. El‐Emam
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryFaculty of PharmacyMansoura UniversityMansoura35516Egypt
| | - Zoran Marković
- Department of ScienceInstitute for Information TechnologiesUniversity of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb34000Kragujevac, Republic ofSerbia
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12
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Malykh AG, Pavlov AR, Komkov AV, Volkova YA, Menchikov LG, Zavarzin IV. New synthetic corticosteroids inhibit Epstein–Barr virus release. MENDELEEV COMMUNICATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mencom.2021.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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13
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Mahmoudi S, Balmeh N, Mohammadi N, Sadeghian-Rizi T. The Novel Drug Discovery to Combat COVID-19 by Repressing Important Virus Proteins Involved in Pathogenesis Using Medicinal Herbal Compounds. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2021; 13:107-115. [PMID: 34484639 PMCID: PMC8377408 DOI: 10.18502/ajmb.v13i3.6370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cause of COVID-19 global pandemic is SARS-CoV-2. Given the outbreak of this disease, it is so important to find a treatment. One strategy to cope with COVID-19 is to use the active ingredients of medicinal plants. In this study, the effect of active substances was surveyed in inhibiting four important druggable targets, including S protein, 3CLpro, RdRp, and N protein. RdRp controls the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and is crucial for its life cycle. 3CLpro is the main protease of the virus and could be another therapeutic target. Moreover, N protein and S protein are responsible for SARS-CoV-2 assembly and attaching, respectively. METHODS The 3D structures of herbal active ingredients were prepared and docked with the mentioned SARS-CoV-2 proteins to obtain their affinity. Then, available antiviral drugs introduced in other investigations were docked using similar tools and compared with the results of this study. Finally, other properties of natural compounds were uncovered for drug designing. RESULTS The outcomes of the study revealed that Linarin, Amentoflavone, (-)-Catechin Gallate and Hypericin from Chrysanthemum morifolium, Hypericum perforatum, Humulus lupulus, and Hibiscus sabdariffa had the highest affinity for these basic proteins and in some cases, their affinity was much higher than antiviral medicines. CONCLUSION In addition to having high affinity, these herb active ingredients have antioxidant, vasoprotective, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral properties. Therefore, they can be used as extremely safe therapeutic compounds in drug design studies to control COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Mahmoudi
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Balmeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, Nour Danesh Institution of Higher Education, Meymeh, Iran
| | - Niloofar Mohammadi
- Department of Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Pir Bakran Branch, Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Tahereh Sadeghian-Rizi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani University, Isfahan, Iran
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14
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Jicsinszky L, Martina K, Cravotto G. Cyclodextrins in the antiviral therapy. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2021; 64:102589. [PMID: 34035845 PMCID: PMC8135197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The main antiviral drug-cyclodextrin interactions, changes in physicochemical and physiological properties of the most commonly used virucides are summarized. The potential complexation of antiviral molecules against the SARS-Cov2 also pointed out the lack of detailed information in designing effective and general medicines against viral infections. The principal problem of the current molecules is the 3D structures of the currently active compounds. Improving the solubility or bioavailability of antiviral molecules is possible, however, there is no universal solution, and the complexation experiments dominantly use the already approved cyclodextrin derivatives. This review discusses the basic properties of the different cyclodextrin derivatives, their potential in antiviral formulations, and the prevention and treatment of viral infections. The biologically active new cyclodextrin derivatives are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Jicsinszky
- Dept. of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Katia Martina
- Dept. of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Cravotto
- Dept. of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy
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15
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Singh N, Villoutreix BO. Resources and computational strategies to advance small molecule SARS-CoV-2 discovery: Lessons from the pandemic and preparing for future health crises. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2537-2548. [PMID: 33936562 PMCID: PMC8074526 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to identify new therapies that prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and improve the outcome of COVID-19 patients. This pandemic has thus spurred intensive research in most scientific areas and in a short period of time, several vaccines have been developed. But, while the race to find vaccines for COVID-19 has dominated the headlines, other types of therapeutic agents are being developed. In this mini-review, we report several databases and online tools that could assist the discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 small chemical compounds and peptides. We then give examples of studies that combined in silico and in vitro screening, either for drug repositioning purposes or to search for novel bioactive compounds. Finally, we question the overall lack of discussion and plan observed in academic research in many countries during this crisis and suggest that there is room for improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natesh Singh
- Université de Paris, Inserm UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, Robert-Debré Hospital, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Bruno O. Villoutreix
- Université de Paris, Inserm UMR 1141 NeuroDiderot, Robert-Debré Hospital, 75019 Paris, France
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16
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Computationally approached inhibition potential of Tinospora cordifolia towards COVID-19 targets. Virusdisease 2021; 32:65-77. [PMID: 33778129 PMCID: PMC7980128 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-021-00666-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent emergence of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been a major threat to human society, as the challenge of finding suitable drug or vaccine is not met till date. With increasing morbidity and mortality, the need for novel drug candidates is under great demand. The investigations are progressing towards COVID-19 therapeutics. Among the various strategies employed, the use of repurposed drugs is competing along with novel drug inventions. Based on the therapeutic significance, the chemical constituents from the extract of Tinospora cordifolia belonging to various classes like alkaloids, lignans, steroids and terpenoids are investigated as potential drug candidates for COVID-19. The inhibition potential of the proposed compounds against viral spike protein and human receptor ACE2 were evaluated by computational molecular modeling (Auto dock), along with their ADME/T properties. Prior to docking, the initial geometry of the compounds were optimized by Density functional theory (DFT) method employing B3LYP hybrid functional and 6-311 + + G (d,p) basis set. The results of molecular docking and ADME/T studies have revealed 6 constituents as potential drug candidates that can inhibit the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human receptor ACE2 protein. The narrowed down list of constituents from Tinospora cordifolia paved way for further tuning their ability to inhibit COVID-19 by modifying the chemical structures and by employing computational geometry optimization and docking methods. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-021-00666-7.
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17
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Bhatt K, Garimella R, Taugir R, Mehta I, Jamal M, Vijayan R, Offor R, Nwankwo K, Arif U, Waheed K, Kumari P, Lathiya M, Michel G, Pandya N, Halpern J, Nasir H, Sanchez-Gonzalez MA. Effectiveness of Mavrilimumab in Viral Infections Including SARS-CoV-2 Infection - A Brief Review. Infect Chemother 2021; 53:1-12. [PMID: 34409778 PMCID: PMC8032909 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2020.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperinflammation and cytokine storm has been noted as a poor prognostic factor in patients with severe pneumonia related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In COVID-19, pathogenic myeloid cell overactivation is found to be a vital mediator of damage to tissues, hypercoagulability, and the cytokine storm. These cytokines unselectively infiltrate various tissues, such as the lungs and heart, and nervous system. This cytokine storm can hence cause multi-organ dysfunction and life-threatening complications. Mavrilimumab is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that may be helpful in some cases with COVID-19. During an inflammation, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) release is crucial to driving both innate and adaptive immune responses. The GM-CSF immune response is triggered when an antigen attaches to the host cell and induces the signaling pathway. Mavrilimumab antagonizes the action of GM-CSF and decreases the hyperinflammation associated with pneumonia in COVID-19, therefore strengthening the rationale that mavrilimumab when added to the standard protocol of treatment could improve the clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients, specifically those patients with pneumonia. With this review paper, we aim to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of mavrilimumab on cytokine storms in patients with COVID-19 by reviewing published clinical trials and emphasize the importance of extensive future trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinal Bhatt
- Division of Clinical & Translational Research, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA.
| | | | - Rahima Taugir
- Medical University of the Americas, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Isha Mehta
- Windsor University School of Medicine, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | | | | | - Rita Offor
- Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | | | - Uroosa Arif
- Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | | | | | | | - George Michel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA
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18
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Li G, Xu M, Yue T, Gu W, Tan L. Life-long passion for antiviral research and drug development: 80th birthday of Prof. Dr. Erik De Clercq. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 185:114485. [PMID: 33617841 PMCID: PMC7895689 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Since the 1950s, great efforts have been made to develop antiviral agents against many infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Among the list of nearly 106 antiviral agents approved in the past five decades, Prof. Erik De Clercq has contributed to the development of 7 antiviral drugs: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread®) for HIV and HBV treatment, tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®) for HIV and HBV treatment, brivudine (Zostex®) for HSV-1 and VZV treatment, valacyclovir (Valtrex®) for HSV and VZV treatment, adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera®) for HBV treatment, stavudine (Zerit®) for HIV treatment, and cidofovir (Vistide®) for treating HCMV retinitis in AIDS patients. In addition to the above antiviral drugs, his contributions include two anti-cancer drugs: rabacfosadine (Tanovea®-CA1) for canine lymphoma and plerixafor (Mozobil®) for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These achievements are driven by his life-long passions for antiviral research and successful collaborations worldwide. To honor the 80th birthday of Prof. Erik De Clercq, this study highlights his scientific achievements and the importance of life-long passions and collaborations in the success of antiviral research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangdi Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Tingting Yue
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Weijie Gu
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Li Tan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
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19
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An update to monoclonal antibody as therapeutic option against COVID-19. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2021; 3:87-91. [PMID: 33585808 PMCID: PMC7872849 DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With the number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases soaring worldwide and limited vaccine availability for the general population in most countries, the monoclonal antibody (mAb) remains a viable therapeutic option to treat COVID-19 disease and its complications, especially in the elderly individuals. More than 50 monoclonal antibody-related clinical trials are being conducted in different countries around the world, with few of them nearing the completion of the third and fourth phase clinical trial. In view of recent emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of casirivimab and imdevimab, it is of importance that mAbs, already used to treat diseases such as Ebola and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, are discussed in scientific communities. This brief review discusses the mechanism of action and updates to clinical trials of different monoclonal antibodies used to treat COVID-19, with special attention paid to SARS-CoV-2 immune response in host cells, target viral structures, and justification of developing mAbs following the approval and administration of potential effective vaccine among vulnerable populations in different countries.
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20
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Avanzini MA, Mura M, Percivalle E, Bastaroli F, Croce S, Valsecchi C, Lenta E, Nykjaer G, Cassaniti I, Bagnarino J, Baldanti F, Zecca M, Comoli P, Gnecchi M. Human mesenchymal stromal cells do not express ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and are not permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Stem Cells Transl Med 2021; 10:636-642. [PMID: 33188579 PMCID: PMC7753681 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti‐inflammatory and immune‐modulatory therapies have been proposed for the treatment of COVID‐19 and its most serious complications. Among others, the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is under investigation given their well‐documented anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, some critical issues regarding the possibility that MSCs could be infected by the virus have been raised. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) are the main host cell factors for the severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), entry, but so far it is unclear if human MSCs do or do not express these two proteins. To elucidate these important aspects, we evaluated if human MSCs from both fetal and adult tissues constitutively express ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and, most importantly, if they can be infected by SARS‐CoV‐2. We evaluated human MSCs derived from amnios, cord blood, cord tissue, adipose tissue, and bone marrow. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were expressed by the SARS‐CoV‐2‐permissive human pulmonary Calu‐3 cell line but not by all the MSCs tested. MSCs were then exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 wild strain without evidence of cytopathic effect. Moreover, we also excluded that the MSCs could be infected without showing lytic effects since their conditioned medium after SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure did not contain viral particles. Our data, demonstrating that MSCs derived from different human tissues are not permissive to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, support the safety of MSCs as potential therapy for COVID‐19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Avanzini
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Manuela Mura
- Intensive Cardiac Care Unit and Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology for Cell and Molecular Therapy, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Percivalle
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Bastaroli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Cardiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Croce
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,General Surgery I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Chiara Valsecchi
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Lenta
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Nykjaer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Cardiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Irene Cassaniti
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Jessica Bagnarino
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Molecular Virology Unit, Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Zecca
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Comoli
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Gnecchi
- Intensive Cardiac Care Unit and Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology for Cell and Molecular Therapy, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Cardiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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21
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Cagno V, Magliocco G, Tapparel C, Daali Y. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2020; 128:621-624. [PMID: 33232578 PMCID: PMC7753569 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Since the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of 2019, no vaccine has been approved to counter this infection and the available treatments are mainly directed against the immune pathology caused by the infection. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently causing a worldwide pandemic, pointing the urgent need for effective treatment. In such emergency, drug repurposing presents the best option for a rapid antiviral response. We assess here the in vitro activity of nilotinib, imatinib and dasatinib, three Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors, against SARS-CoV-2. Although the last two compounds do not show antiviral efficacy, we observe inhibition with nilotinib in Vero-E6 cells and Calu-3 cells with EC50s of 1.44 μM and 3.06 μM, respectively. These values are close to the mean peak concentration of nilotinib observed at steady state in serum, making this compound a potential candidate for treatment of COVID-19 in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Cagno
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gaelle Magliocco
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Tapparel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Youssef Daali
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology, Geneva, Switzerland
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22
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Arafet K, Serrano-Aparicio N, Lodola A, Mulholland AJ, González FV, Świderek K, Moliner V. Mechanism of inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M pro by N3 peptidyl Michael acceptor explained by QM/MM simulations and design of new derivatives with tunable chemical reactivity. Chem Sci 2020; 12:1433-1444. [PMID: 34163906 PMCID: PMC8179034 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06195f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is essential for replication of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the main targets for drug design. Here, we simulate the inhibition process of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with a known Michael acceptor (peptidyl) inhibitor, N3. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the formation of the covalent enzyme-inhibitor product is computed with QM/MM molecular dynamics methods. The simulations show a two-step mechanism, and give structures and calculated barriers in good agreement with experiment. Using these results and information from our previous investigation on the proteolysis reaction of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, we design two new, synthetically accessible N3-analogues as potential inhibitors, in which the recognition and warhead motifs are modified. QM/MM modelling of the mechanism of inhibition of Mpro by these novel compounds indicates that both may be promising candidates as drug leads against COVID-19, one as an irreversible inhibitor and one as a potential reversible inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemel Arafet
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma Italy
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol UK
| | - Florenci V González
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
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