Effectiveness of Periodic Treatment of Quercetin against Influenza A Virus H1N1 through Modulation of Protein Expression

Exploring the Underlying Mechanisms of Qingxing Granules Treating H1N1 Influenza Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

BACKGROUND

H1N1 is one of the major subtypes of influenza A virus (IAV) that causes seasonal influenza, posing a serious threat to human health. A traditional Chinese medicine combination called Qingxing granules (QX) is utilized clinically to treat epidemic influenza. However, its chemical components are complex, and the potential pharmacological mechanisms are still unknown.

METHODS

QX's effective components were gathered from the TCMSP database based on two criteria: drug-likeness (DL ≥ 0.18) and oral bioavailability (OB ≥ 30%). SwissADME was used to predict potential targets of effective components, and Cytoscape was used to create a "Herb-Component-Target" network for QX. In addition, targets associated with H1N1 were gathered from the databases GeneCards, OMIM, and GEO. Targets associated with autophagy were retrieved from the KEGG, HAMdb, and HADb databases. Intersection targets for QX, H1N1 influenza, and autophagy were identified using Venn diagrams. Afterward, key targets were screened using Cytoscape's protein-protein interaction networks built using the database STRING. Biological functions and signaling pathways of overlapping targets were observed through GO analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis. The main chemical components of QX were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by molecular docking. Finally, the mechanism of QX in treating H1N1 was validated through animal experiments.

RESULTS

A total of 786 potential targets and 91 effective components of QX were identified. There were 5420 targets related to H1N1 and 821 autophagy-related targets. The intersection of all targets of QX, H1N1, and autophagy yielded 75 intersecting targets. Ultimately, 10 core targets were selected: BCL2, CASP3, NFKB1, MTOR, JUN, TNF, HSP90AA1, EGFR, HIF1A, and MAPK3. Identification of the main chemical components of QX by HPLC resulted in the separation of seven marker ingredients within 195 min, which are amygdalin, puerarin, baicalin, phillyrin, wogonoside, baicalein, and wogonin. Molecular docking results showed that BCL2, CASP3, NFKB1, and MTOR could bind well with the compounds. In animal studies, QX reduced the degenerative alterations in the lung tissue of H1N1-infected mice by upregulating the expression of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 and downregulating the expression of LC3, which inhibited autophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this study's network pharmacology analysis and experimental confirmation, QX may be able to treat H1N1 infection by regulating autophagy, lowering the expression of LC3, and increasing the expression of p62 and p-mTOR/mTOR.

Biomedicine and pharmacotherapeutic effectiveness of combinatorial atorvastatin and quercetin on diabetic nephropathy: An in vitro study

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic nephropathy is a type of kidney disorder that develops as a complication of multifactorial diabetes. Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by microangiopathy, resulting from glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, and changes in renal hemodynamics. This study strived to evaluate the in vitro cytoprotective activity of atorvastatin (ATR), and quercetin (QCT) alone and in combination against diabetic nephropathy.

METHODS

The MTT assay was utilized to analyze the effects of the test compounds on NRK-52E rat kidney epithelial cells. The detection of apoptosis and ability to scavenge free radicals was assessed via acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) dual fluorescence staining, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyfree assay (DPPH), respectively. The ability of anti-inflammatory effect of the test compounds and western blot analysis against TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-6 further assessed to determine the combinatorial efficacy.

RESULTS

Atorvastatin and quercetin treatment significantly lowered the expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-6 indicating the protective role in Streptozotocin-induced nephrotoxicity. The kidney cells treated with a combination of atorvastatin and quercetin showed green fluorescing nuclei in the AO-EB staining assay, indicating that the combination treatment restored cell viability. Quercetin, both alone and in combination with atorvastatin, demonstrated strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity and further encountered an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the combination of these drugs.

CONCLUSION

Nevertheless, there is currently no existing literature that reports on the role of QCT as a combination renoprotective drug with statins in the context of diabetic nephropathy. Hence, these findings suggest that atorvastatin and quercetin may have clinical potential in treating diabetic nephropathy.

Influence of colour background on anti-viral activity against viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus in zebrafish regulated by circadian rhythm signalling pathway

The influence of colour background on the regulation of behavioural and physiological responses in zebrafish is widely recognized. However, its specific effect on virus infection in zebrafish remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the susceptibility of zebrafish to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) infection in relation to background colour, investigate the underlying mechanisms, and elucidate the involvement of key molecules, using proteomic and gene expression analyses. The results revealed that zebrafish housed in a blue tank exhibited higher survival rates and considerably reduced VHSV replication compared to those housed in a yellow tank. Further, up-regulation of apolipoprotein 1 (APOA1) was identified as a crucial shared mechanism associated with survival in zebrafish exposed to VHSV infection and reared in a blue background. The mRNA expression level of bmal1a, a core gene involved in the circadian rhythm, was consistently downregulated in fish from the blue tank compared to fish from the yellow tank, regardless of infection status. Subsequently, zebrafish in the blue tank were exposed to daylight conditions to stimulate per2 and pgc1a expression, aiming to investigate their potential impact on VHSV infection. The validity of these interconnected events, triggered by background colour, involving APOA1 up-regulation, circadian rhythm modulation, and antiviral responses, was confirmed by treatments with hesperetin and cyclosporine A, an activator and inhibitor of apoa1 respectively. Our findings revealed the influence of background colour on the apoa1 expression level, thus establishing the involvement of a novel network through circadian rhythm signalling.

Antiviral Activity of Quercetin Hydrate against Zika Virus

Zika virus (ZIKV) has re-emerged in recent decades, leading to outbreaks of Zika fever in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Despite its drastic re-emergence and clinical impact, no vaccines or antiviral compounds are available to prevent or control ZIKV infection. This study evaluated the potential antiviral activity of quercetin hydrate against ZIKV infection and demonstrated that this substance inhibits virus particle production in A549 and Vero cells under different treatment conditions. In vitro antiviral activity was long-lasting (still observed 72 h post-infection), suggesting that quercetin hydrate affects multiple rounds of ZIKV replication. Molecular docking indicates that quercetin hydrate can efficiently interact with the specific allosteric binding site cavity of the NS2B-NS3 proteases and NS1-dimer. These results identify quercetin as a potential compound to combat ZIKV infection in vitro.

The critical role of the Hippo signaling pathway in kidney diseases

The Hippo signaling pathway is involved in cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis, and it plays a key role in regulating organ size, tissue regeneration, and tumor development. The Hippo signaling pathway also participates in the occurrence and development of various human diseases. Recently, many studies have shown that the Hippo pathway is closely related to renal diseases, including renal cancer, cystic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, and renal fibrosis, and it promotes the transformation of acute kidney disease to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present paper summarizes and analyzes the research status of the Hippo signaling pathway in different kidney diseases, and it also summarizes the expression of Hippo signaling pathway components in pathological tissues of kidney diseases. In addition, the present paper discusses the positive therapeutic significance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in regulating the Hippo signaling pathway for treating kidney diseases. This article introduces new targets and ideas for drug development, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.

Design, synthesis, and anti-influenza A virus activity evaluation of novel indole containing derivatives of triazole

We designed and synthesized 18 substituted indole derivatives containing a triazole scaffold as novel anti-influenza A virus candidates using a bio-isosteric and scaffold-hopping strategy from the lead compound 4-32-2. Most of the target compounds (eg: 6, 7a, 7d, 7f-j, 7l, 7m, 7o, 7q) exhibited potent anti-influenza A virus activity and low cytotoxicity in vitro. In particular, 7a exhibited the most potent anti-IAV activity (IC₅₀: 1.34 ± 0.13 μM) with low cytotoxicity (CC₅₀: > 100 μM), and high selectivity index (SI: > 74.63), which provides a new chemical scaffold for the development of novel anti-IAV drug.

Antiviral activity of Epimedium koreanum Nakai water extract against influenza viruses

Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN) is a popular plant in Korean and Chinese medicine for treating a variety of ailments. The aqueous extract of EKN has a significant inhibitory impact on influenza A virus (IAV) infection by directly blocking viral attachment and having a virucidal effect, according to this study. Using fluorescent microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Influenza A/PR/8/34 virus, we examined the effect of EKN on viral infection. By viral infection, EKN strongly suppresses GFP expression, and at a dosage of 100 µg/mL, EKN decreased GFP expression by up to 90% of the untreated infected control. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses against influenza viral proteins revealed that EKN decreased influenza viral protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. EKN inhibited the H1N1 influenza virus's hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), preventing viral attachment to cells. Furthermore, EKN had a virucidal impact and inhibited the cytopathic effects of H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B virus infection. Finally, our findings show that EKN has the potential to be developed as a natural viral inhibitor against influenza virus infection.

Modulating Neurological Complications of Emerging Infectious Diseases: Mechanistic Approaches to Candidate Phytochemicals

Growing studies are revealing the critical manifestations of influenza, dengue virus (DENV) infection, Zika virus (ZIKV) disease, and Ebola virus disease (EVD) as emerging infectious diseases. However, their corresponding mechanisms of major complications headed for neuronal dysfunction are not entirely understood. From the mechanistic point of view, inflammatory/oxidative mediators are activated during emerging infectious diseases towards less cell migration, neurogenesis impairment, and neuronal death. Accordingly, the virus life cycle and associated enzymes, as well as host receptors, cytokine storm, and multiple signaling mediators, are the leading players of emerging infectious diseases. Consequently, chemokines, interleukins, interferons, carbohydrate molecules, toll-like receptors (TLRs), and tyrosine kinases are leading orchestrates of peripheral and central complications which are in near interconnections. Some of the resulting neuronal manifestations have attracted much attention, including inflammatory polyneuropathy, encephalopathy, meningitis, myelitis, stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), radiculomyelitis, meningoencephalitis, memory loss, headaches, cranial nerve abnormalities, tremor, and seizure. The complex pathophysiological mechanism behind the aforementioned complications urges the need for finding multi-target agents with higher efficacy and lower side effects. In recent decades, the natural kingdom has been highlighted as promising neuroprotective natural products in modulating several dysregulated signaling pathways/mediators. The present study provides neuronal manifestations of some emerging infectious diseases and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Besides, a mechanistic-based strategy is developed to introduce candidate natural products as promising multi-target agents in combating major dysregulated pathways towards neuroprotection in influenza, DENV infection, ZIKV disease, and EVD.

Potent antiviral activity of Agrimonia pilosa, Galla rhois, and their components against SARS-CoV-2

Agrimonia pilosa (AP), Galla rhois (RG), and their mixture (APRG64) strongly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 by interfering with multiple steps of the viral life cycle including viral entry and replication. Furthermore, among 12 components identified in APRG64, three displayed strong antiviral activity, ursolic acid (1), quercetin (7), and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (12). Molecular docking analysis showed these components to bind potently to the spike receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 and its variant B.1.1.7. Taken together, these findings indicate APRG64 as a potent drug candidate to treat SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents-Inspiration from Immunomodulatory Natural Products

Developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs remains an important issue as viral infections continue to threaten public health. Host-directed therapy is a method that focuses on potential targets in host cells or the body, instead of viral proteins. Its antiviral effects are achieved by disturbing the life cycles of pathogens or modulating immunity. In this review, we focus on the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that enhance the immune response. Some natural products present antiviral effects mediated by enhancing immunity, and their structures and mechanisms are summarized here. Natural products with immunomodulatory effects are also discussed, although their antiviral effects remain unknown. Given the power of immunity and the feasibility of host-directed therapy, we argue that both of these categories of natural products provide clues that may be beneficial for the discovery of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

Phytochemical Profiles and their Anti-inflammatory Responses Against Influenza from Traditional Chinese Medicine or Herbs

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or herbs are widely used in the prevention and treatment of viral infectious diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of TCMs remain largely obscure due to complicated material basis and multi-target therapeutics. TCMs have been reported to display anti-influenza activity associated with immunoregulatory mechanisms by enhancing host antiinfluenza immune responses. Previous studies have helped us understand the direct harm caused by the virus itself. In this review, we have tried to summarize recent progress in TCM-based anti-influenza research on the indirect harmful immune responses caused by influenza viruses. In particular, the phytochemicals from TCMs responsible for molecular mechanisms of action belonging to different classes, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids and polysaccharides, have been identified and demonstrated. In addition, this review focuses on the pharmacological mechanism, e.g., inflammatory responses and the interferon (IFN) signaling pathway, which can provide a theoretical basis and approaches for TCM based anti-influenza treatment.

Micronutrients and bioactive substances: Their potential roles in combating COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is seriously threatening public health and setting off huge economic crises across the world. In the absence of specific drugs for COVID-19, there is an urgent need to look for alternative approaches. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to review the roles of micronutrients and bioactive substances as potential alternative approaches in combating COVID-19.

METHODS

This review was based on the literature identified using electronic searches in different databases.

RESULTS

Vitamins (A, B, C, D, and E), minerals (selenium and zinc), and bioactive substances from curcumin, echinacea, propolis, garlic, soybean, green tea, and other polyphenols were identified as having potential roles in interfering with spike glycoproteins, angiotensin converting enzyme 2, and transmembrane protease serine 2 at the entry site, and inhibiting activities of papain-like protease, 3 chymotrypsin-like protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the replication cycle of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Having immunomodulating, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, such micronutrients and bioactive substances are consequently promising alterative nutritional approaches to combat COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

The roles of micronutrients and bioactive substances in the fight against COVID-19 are exciting areas of research. This review may suggest directions for further study.

Molecular Elucidation and Therapeutic Targeting for combating COVID19: Current Scenario and Future Prospective

A corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease which is caused by a novel corona virus. Human corona virus (HCoV) recognized as one of the most rapidly evolving viruses owing to its high genomic nucleotide substitution rates and recombination. Among the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS), COVID-19 has spread more rapidly and increased the level of globalization and adaptation of the virus in every environmental condition due to their high rate of molecular diversity. The whole article highlights the general characteristics of corona virus, their molecular diversity, and molecular protein targeting against COVID-19 with their newer approaches. Through this review, an attempt has made to critically evaluate the recent advances and future aspects helpful to the treatment of COVID-19 based on the present understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infections, which may help offer new insights and potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of the COVID-19.

Proteomic evaluation of kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable, and comparison of kimchi manufactured in China and Korea

Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable, which is also widely consumed in Japan and China. However, little is known about the kimchi proteome. In this study, Korean and Chinese kimchi proteomes were evaluated by shotgun proteomics. A total of 250 proteins were annotated, and 29 of these were expressed at > 1% of the average relative abundance. Discrimination of the geographical origins of Korean and Chinese kimchi samples was possible using multivariate analysis of the proteomic data, and 23 proteins were expressed differently between the two types (p < 0.001), and represent possible markers to discriminate between Chinese and Korean kimchi. This study provides important insights into the kimchi proteome and illustrates the proteomic differences caused by geographical origin.

Antileishmanial Activity of Lignans, Neolignans, and Other Plant Phenols

Secondary metabolites (SM) from organisms have served medicinal chemists over the past two centuries as an almost inexhaustible pool of new drugs, drug-like skeletons, and chemical probes that have been used in the "hunt" for new biologically active molecules with a "beneficial effect on human mind and body." Several secondary metabolites, or their derivatives, have been found to be the answer in the quest to search for new approaches to treat or even eradicate many types of diseases that oppress humanity. A special place among SM is occupied by lignans and neolignans. These phenolic compounds are generated biosynthetically via radical coupling of two phenylpropanoid monomers, and are known for their multitarget activity and low toxicity. The disadvantage of the relatively low specificity of phenylpropanoid-based SM turns into an advantage when structural modifications of these skeletons are made. Indeed, phenylpropanoid-based SM previously have proven to offer great potential as a starting point in drug development. Compounds such as Warfarin^® (a coumarin-based anticoagulant) as well as etoposide and teniposide (podophyllotoxin-based anticancer drugs) are just a few examples. At the beginning of the third decade of the twenty-first century, the call for the treatment of more than a dozen rare or previously "neglected" diseases remains for various reasons unanswered. Leishmaniasis, a neglected disease that desperately needs new ways of treatment, is just one of these. This disease is caused by more than 20 leishmanial parasites that are pathogenic to humans and are spread by as many as 800 sandfly species across subtropical areas of the world. With continuing climate changes, the presence of Leishmania parasites and therefore leishmaniasis, the disease caused by these parasites, is spreading from previous locations to new areas. Thus, leishmaniasis is affecting each year a larger proportion of the world's population. The choice of appropriate leishmaniasis treatment depends on the severity of the disease and its form of manifestation. The success of current drug therapy is often limited, due in most cases to requiring long hospitalization periods (weeks to months) and the toxicity (side effects) of administered drugs, in addition to the increasing resistance of the parasites to treatment. It is thus important to develop new drugs and treatments that are less toxic, can overcome drug resistance, and require shorter periods of treatment. These aspects are especially important for the populations of developing countries. It was reported that several phenylpropanoid-based secondary metabolites manifest interesting antileishmanial activities and are used by various indigenous people to treat leishmaniasis. In this chapter, the authors shed some light on the various biological activities of phenylpropanoid natural products, with the main focus being on their possible applications in the context of antileishmanial treatment.

Quercetin as a Natural Therapeutic Candidate for the Treatment of Influenza Virus

The medical burden caused by respiratory manifestations of influenza virus (IV) outbreak as an infectious respiratory disease is so great that governments in both developed and developing countries have allocated significant national budget toward the development of strategies for prevention, control, and treatment of this infection, which is seemingly common and treatable, but can be deadly. Frequent mutations in its genome structure often result in resistance to standard medications. Thus, new generations of treatments are critical to combat this ever-evolving infection. Plant materials and active compounds have been tested for many years, including, more recently, active compounds like flavonoids. Quercetin is a compound belonging to the flavonols class and has shown therapeutic effects against influenza virus. The focus of this review includes viral pathogenesis as well as the application of quercetin and its derivatives as a complementary therapy in controlling influenza and its related symptoms based on the targets. We also touch on the potential of this class of compounds for treatment of SARS-COV-2, the cause of new pandemic.

Proteomics in Influenza Research: The Emerging Role of Posttranslational Modifications

Influenza viruses continue evolving and have the ability to cause a global pandemic, so it is very important to elucidate its pathogenesis and find new treatment methods. In recent years, proteomics has made important contributions to describing the dynamic interaction between influenza viruses and their hosts, especially in posttranslational regulation of a variety of key biological processes. Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) increase the diversity of functionality of the organismal proteome and affect almost all aspects of pathogen biology, primarily by regulating the structure, function, and localization of the modified proteins. Considerable technical achievements in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have been made in a large number of proteome-wide surveys of PTMs in many different organisms. Herein we specifically focus on the proteomic studies regarding a variety of PTMs that occur in both the influenza viruses, mainly influenza A viruses (IAVs), and their hosts, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination and ubiquitin-like modification, glycosylation, methylation, acetylation, and some types of acylation. Integration of these data sets provides a unique scenery of the global regulation and interplay of different PTMs during the interaction between IAVs and their hosts. Various techniques used to globally profiling these PTMs, mostly MS-based approaches, are discussed regarding their increasing roles in mechanical regulation of interaction between influenza viruses and their hosts.

Quercetin: Antiviral Significance and Possible COVID-19 Integrative Considerations

Quercetin, a naturally occurring dietary flavonoid, is well known to ameliorate chronic diseases and aging processes in humans, and its antiviral properties have been investigated in numerous studies. In silico and in vitro studies demonstrated that quercetin can interfere with various stages of the coronavirus entry and replication cycle such as PLpro, 3CLpro, and NTPase/helicase. Due to its pleiotropic activities and lack of systemic toxicity, quercetin and its derivatives may represent target compounds to be tested in future clinical trials to enrich the drug arsenal against coronavirus infections. There is evidence that quercetin in combination with, for example, vitamins C and D, may exert a synergistic antiviral action that may provide either an alternative or additional therapeutic/preventive option due to overlapping antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. This review summarizes the antiviral significance of quercetin and proposes a possible strategy for the effective utilization of natural polyphenols in our daily diet for the prevention of viral infection.

Anti-Influenza Activity of the Ribonuclease Binase: Cellular Targets Detected by Quantitative Proteomics

Unpredictable influenza pandemics, annual epidemics, and sporadic poultry-to-human avian influenza virus infections with high morbidity and mortality rates dictate a need to develop new antiviral approaches. Targeting cellular pathways and processes is a promising antiviral strategy shown to be effective regardless of viral subtypes or viral evolution of drug-resistant variants. Proteomics-based searches provide a tool to reveal the druggable stages of the virus life cycle and to understand the putative antiviral mode of action of the drug(s). Ribonucleases (RNases) of different origins not only demonstrate antiviral effects that are mediated by the direct RNase action on viral and cellular RNAs but can also exert their impact by signal transduction modulation. To our knowledge, studies of the RNase-affected cell proteome have not yet been performed. To reveal cellular targets and explain the mechanisms underlying the antiviral effect employed by the small extra-cellular ribonuclease of Bacillus pumilus (binase) both in vitro and in vivo, qualitative shotgun and quantitative targeted proteomic analyses of the influenza A virus (IAV) H1N1pdm09-infected A549 cells upon binase treatment were performed. We compared proteomes of mock-treated, binase-treated, virus-infected, and virus-infected binase-treated cells to determine the proteins affected by IAV and/or binase. In general, IAV demonstrated a downregulating strategy towards cellular proteins, while binase had an upregulating effect. With the help of bioinformatics approaches, coregulated cellular protein sets were defined and assigned to their biological function; a possible interconnection with the progression of viral infection was conferred. Most of the proteins downregulated by IAV (e.g., AKR1B1, AKR1C1, CCL5, PFN1, RAN, S100A4, etc.) belong to the processes of cellular metabolism, response to stimulus, biological regulation, and cellular localization. Upregulated proteins upon the binase treatment (e.g., AKR1B10, CAP1, HNRNPA2B1, PFN1, PPIA, YWHAB, etc.) are united by the processes of biological regulation, cellular localization, and immune and metabolic processes. The antiviral activity of binase against IAV was expressed by the inversion of virus-induced proteomic changes, resulting in the inhibition of virus-associated processes, including nuclear ribonucleoprotein export (NCL, NPM1, Nup205, and Bax proteins involved) and cytoskeleton remodeling (RDX, PFN1, and TUBB) induced by IAV at the middle stage of single-cycle infection in A549 cells. Modulation of the immune response could be involved as well. Overall, it seems possible that binase exerts its antiviral effects in multiple ways.

Unraveling the anti-influenza effect of flavonoids: Experimental validation of luteolin and its congeners as potent influenza endonuclease inhibitors

The biological effects of flavonoids on mammal cells are diverse, ranging from scavenging free radicals and anti-cancer activity to anti-influenza activity. Despite appreciable effort to understand the anti-influenza activity of flavonoids, there is no clear consensus about their precise mode-of-action at a cellular level. Here, we report the development and validation of a screening assay based on AlphaScreen technology and illustrate its application for determination of the inhibitory potency of a large set of polyols against PA N-terminal domain (PA-Nter) of influenza RNA-dependent RNA polymerase featuring endonuclease activity. The most potent inhibitors we identified were luteolin with an IC₅₀ of 72 ± 2 nM and its 8-C-glucoside orientin with an IC₅₀ of 43 ± 2 nM. Submicromolar inhibitors were also evaluated by an in vitro endonuclease activity assay using single-stranded DNA, and the results were in full agreement with data from the competitive AlphaScreen assay. Using X-ray crystallography, we analyzed structures of the PA-Nter in complex with luteolin at 2.0 Å resolution and quambalarine B at 2.5 Å resolution, which clearly revealed the binding pose of these polyols coordinated to two manganese ions in the endonuclease active site. Using two distinct assays along with the structural work, we have presumably identified and characterized the molecular mode-of-action of flavonoids in influenza-infected cells.

Targeting Casein kinase 2 with quercetin or enzymatically modified isoquercitrin as a strategy for boosting the type 1 interferon response to viruses and promoting cardiovascular health

The serine/threonine kinase CK2 has been shown to down-regulate the production of type 1 interferons in response to viral infections by conferring an inhibitory phosphorylation on RIG-I, which functions to detect double-stranded RNA generated during replication of RNA viruses. Quercetin and certain other planar flavones/flavonols can inhibit CK2 in high nanomolar concentrations; this may explain quercetin's ability to slow the proliferation of RNA viruses in cell cultures and in mice. Limited clinical evidence suggests that supplemental quercetin may decrease risk for upper respiratory infections in humans. Quercetin and enzymatically-modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ - a food additive/nutraceutical that upon oral administration achieves far higher plasma concentrations of quercetin than quercetin per se) also have exerted a range of vascular-protective effects clinically and in rodents - improving endothelial function, warding off atherosclerosis, lowering blood pressure, decreasing C-reactive protein, aiding glycemic control, stabilizing platelets - that might also, at least in part, reflect CK2 inhibition. The utility of quercetin, EMIQ, and other clinically feasible CK2 inhibitors for aiding control of viral infections and promoting vascular and metabolic health merits further evaluation.

In Silico Discovery of Candidate Drugs against Covid-19

Previous studies reported that Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main cell receptor of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. It plays a key role in the access of the virus into the cell to produce the final infection. In the present study we investigated in silico the basic mechanism of ACE2 in the lung and provided evidences for new potentially effective drugs for Covid-19. Specifically, we used the gene expression profiles from public datasets including The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus and Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analysis to investigate the main functions of ACE2-correlated genes. We constructed a protein-protein interaction network containing the genes co-expressed with ACE2. Finally, we focused on the genes in the network that are already associated with known drugs and evaluated their role for a potential treatment of Covid-19. Our results demonstrate that the genes correlated with ACE2 are mainly enriched in the sterol biosynthetic process, Aryldialkylphosphatase activity, adenosylhomocysteinase activity, trialkylsulfonium hydrolase activity, acetate-CoA and CoA ligase activity. We identified a network of 193 genes, 222 interactions and 36 potential drugs that could have a crucial role. Among possible interesting drugs for Covid-19 treatment, we found Nimesulide, Fluticasone Propionate, Thiabendazole, Photofrin, Didanosine and Flutamide.

Quercetin inhibited mesangial cell proliferation of early diabetic nephropathy through the Hippo pathway

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) is a common and prominent pathological change of DN, which takes place at the early stage. Quercetin, a bioflavonoid compound, possesses therapeutic efficacy in cardiovascular and kidney diseases via anti-tumour, anti-oxidation, anti-virus, and anti-proliferation effects. However, the mechanism of quercetin in the proliferation of glomerular MCs in early DN has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the effect of quercetin on the proliferation of glomerular MCs in high glucose-induced mouse glomerular MCs and in db/db mice. On this basis, we tried to clarify the specific mechanisms underlying these effects. The in vitro results showed that the proliferation of glomerular MCs was induced by high glucose, and the Hippo pathway was highly inactivated in high glucose-cultured MCs. Decreased phosphorylation of MST1 and Lats1 promoted expression and nuclear translocation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and subsequently increased the combination of YAP and TEA/ATS domain (TEAD), which promoted the expression of the downstream target gene such as cyclinE. Quercetin effectively inhibited the high glucose-induced MC proliferation and reactivated the Hippo pathway. In vivo, the proliferation of glomerular MCs was increased, renal function was decreased, and blood fasting glucose was elevated in db/db mice. Furthermore, the Hippo pathway was inactivated in the renal cortex of db/db mice. Eight-week treatment of quercetin retarded MC proliferation, alleviated the renal function, and reactivated Hippo pathway in the renal cortex of db/db mice at 16 weeks. Our previous study clarified that the Hippo pathway was involved in MC proliferation of DN. The results revealed that quercetin inhibited MC proliferation in high glucose-treated mouse glomerular MCs and in DN via reactivation of the Hippo pathway.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis for the Chemical Constituents of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry and Preliminary Screening for Anti-Influenza Virus Components

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (T. hemsleyanums) is a kind of traditional folk medicinal plant which has been used widely in China for its antivirus, antitumor, and other clinical effects. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive/MS) was utilized to analyze the chemical constituents of T. hemsleyanums. Fifty-one constituents were clarified, including flavonoids, anthraquinones, esters, fatty acids, phenols, and catechins. In the subsequent quantitative analysis, the contents of ten compounds of rutin, kaempferol, astragalin, quercitrin, quercetin, vitexin-rhamnoside, isorhamnetin, vitexin, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside, and isoquercetin in 18 batches of T. hemsleyanums collected from different places of cultivation were determined. Meanwhile, anti-influenza virus bioactivity in vitro of the above samples was detected with Gaussia Luciferase viral titer assay. It was found that the antiviral bioactivity varied from batches to batches in accordance with content difference of the chemical constituents in T. hemsleyanums. Correlation analysis was performed with SPSS software for the association between LC-MS chemometrics and bioactivity of influenza virus inhibition, and 8 constituents of flavonoids showed positive correlation coefficient, which may provide a valuable clue for searching potential antiviral components in T. hemsleyanums.

Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) improves immuno-metabolic systems by inhibiting STOML2 overexpression in high-fat-diet-induced obese zebrafish

AOS improves immuno-metabolism systems in high-fat-died-induced obese zebrafish by regulating STOML2.

Inhibition of enterovirus 71 replication and viral 3C protease by quercetin

BACKGROUND

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the major causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which is sometimes associated with severe central nervous system disease in children. There is currently no specific medication for EV71 infection. Quercetin, one of the most widely distributed flavonoids in plants, has been demonstrated to inhibit various viral infections. However, investigation of the anti-EV71 mechanism has not been reported to date.

METHODS

The anti-EV71 activity of quercetin was evaluated by phenotype screening, determining the cytopathic effect (CPE) and EV71-induced cells apoptosis. The effects on EV71 replication were evaluated further by determining virus yield, viral RNA synthesis and protein expression, respectively. The mechanism of action against EV71 was determined from the effective stage and time-of-addition assays. The possible inhibitory functions of quercetin via viral 2Apro, 3Cpro or 3Dpol were tested. The interaction between EV71 3Cpro and quercetin was predicted and calculated by molecular docking.

RESULTS

Quercetin inhibited EV71-mediated cytopathogenic effects, reduced EV71 progeny yields, and prevented EV71-induced apoptosis with low cytotoxicity. Investigation of the underlying mechanism of action revealed that quercetin exhibited a preventive effect against EV71 infection and inhibited viral adsorption. Moreover, quercetin mediated its powerful therapeutic effects primarily by blocking the early post-attachment stage of viral infection. Further experiments demonstrated that quercetin potently inhibited the activity of the EV71 protease, 3Cpro, blocking viral replication, but not the activity of the protease, 2Apro, or the RNA polymerase, 3Dpol. Modeling of the molecular binding of the 3Cpro-quercetin complex revealed that quercetin was predicted to insert into the substrate-binding pocket of EV71 3Cpro, blocking substrate recognition and thereby inhibiting EV71 3Cpro activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Quercetin can effectively prevent EV71-induced cell injury with low toxicity to host cells. Quercetin may act in more than one way to deter viral infection, exhibiting some preventive and a powerful therapeutic effect against EV71. Further, quercetin potently inhibits EV71 3Cpro activity, thereby blocking EV71 replication.