1
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Stevens CS, Oguntuyo KY, Kowdle S, Brambilla L, Haas G, Gowlikar A, Siddiquey MN, Schilke RM, Woolard MD, Zhang H, Acklin JA, Ikegame S, Huang CT, Lim JK, Cross RW, Geisbert TW, Ivanov SS, Kamil JP, Lee B. Alpha-1-antitrypsin and its variant-dependent role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2020.08.14.248880. [PMID: 32817940 PMCID: PMC7430570 DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.14.248880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rationale SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells is facilitated by endogenous and exogenous proteases that proteolytically activate the spike glycoprotein and antiproteases inhibiting this process. Understanding the key actors in viral entry is crucial for advancing knowledge of virus tropism, pathogenesis, and potential therapeutic targets. Objectives We aimed to investigate the role of naïve serum and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in inhibiting protease-mediated SARS-CoV-2 entry and explore the implications of AAT deficiency on susceptibility to different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Findings Our study demonstrates that naïve serum exhibits significant inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 entry, with AAT identified as the major serum protease inhibitor potently restricting entry. Using pseudoparticles, replication-competent pseudoviruses, and authentic SARS-CoV-2, we show that AAT inhibition occurs at low concentrations compared with those in serum and bronchoalveolar tissues, suggesting physiological relevance. Furthermore, sera from subjects with an AAT-deficient genotype show reduced ability to inhibit entry of both Wuhan-Hu-1 (WT) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) but exhibit no difference in inhibiting B.1.1.529 (Omicron) entry. Conclusions AAT may have a variant-dependent therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2. Our findings highlight the importance of further investigating the complex interplay between proteases, antiproteases, and spike glycoprotein activation in SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses to identify potential therapeutic targets and improve understanding of disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian S Stevens
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | | | - Shreyas Kowdle
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Luca Brambilla
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Griffin Haas
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Aditya Gowlikar
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Mohammed Na Siddiquey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103
| | - Robert M Schilke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103
| | - Matthew D Woolard
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103
| | - Joshua A Acklin
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Satoshi Ikegame
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Chuan-Tien Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Jean K Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
| | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555
| | - Stanimir S Ivanov
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103
| | - Jeremy P Kamil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103
| | - Benhur Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
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2
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Calle Rubio M, López-Campos JL, Miravitlles M, Michel de la Rosa FJ, Hernández Pérez JM, Montero Martínez C, Montoro Ronsano JB, Casas Maldonado F, Rodríguez Hermosa JL, Tabernero Huguet EM, Martínez Sesmero JM, Martínez Rivera C, Callejas González FJ, Torres Durán M. COVID-19's impact on care practice for alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency patients. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:98. [PMID: 36717880 PMCID: PMC9885054 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09094-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), commonly categorized as a rare disease, have been affected by the changes in healthcare management brought about by COVID-19. This study's aim was to identify the changes that have taken place in AATD patient care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain and to propose experts' recommendations aimed at ensuring humanized and quality care for people with AATD in the post-pandemic situation. METHODS A qualitative descriptive case study with a holistic single-case design was conducted, using focus groups with experts in AATD clinical management, including 15 health professionals with ties to the Spanish health system (12 pneumologists and 2 hospital pharmacists from 11 different hospitals in Spain) and 1 patient representative. RESULTS COVID-19 has had a major impact on numerous aspects of AATD clinical patient management in Spain, including diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up phases. The experts concluded that there is a need to strengthen coordination between Primary Care and Hospital Care and improve the coordination processes across all the organizations and actors involved in the healthcare system. Regarding telemedicine and telecare, experts have concluded that it is necessary to promote this methodology and to develop protocols and training programs. Experts have recommended developing personalized and precision medicine, and patient participation in decision-making, promoting self-care and patient autonomy to optimize their healthcare and improve their quality of life. The possibility of monitoring and treating AATD patients from home has also been proposed by experts. Another result of the study was the recommendation of the need to ensure that plasma donations are made on a regular basis by a sufficient number of healthy individuals. CONCLUSION The study advances knowledge by highlighting the challenges faced by health professionals and changes in AATD patient management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also proposes experts' recommendations aimed at ensuring humanized and quality care for people with AATD in the post-pandemic situation. This work could serve as a reference study for physicians on their daily clinical practice with AATD patients and may also provide guidance on the changes to be put in place for the post-pandemic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Calle Rubio
- grid.414780.ePulmonology Department, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain ,grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis López-Campos
- grid.411109.c0000 0000 9542 1158Medical-Surgical Unit for Respiratory Diseases, Biomedicine Institute of Sevilla (IBiS), Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain
| | - Marc Miravitlles
- grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Pulmonology Department, Research Institute of Vall d’Hebron (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.413448.e0000 0000 9314 1427Network of Centers for Biomedical Research On Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - José María Hernández Pérez
- grid.413448.e0000 0000 9314 1427Network of Centers for Biomedical Research On Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain ,Pulmonology Department, Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Carmen Montero Martínez
- grid.411066.40000 0004 1771 0279Pulmonology Department, A Coruña University Hospital, A Coruña, Spain
| | - José Bruno Montoro Ronsano
- grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Department of Pharmacy, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Casas Maldonado
- grid.411380.f0000 0000 8771 3783Pulmonology Department, San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital, Granada, Spain ,grid.4489.10000000121678994School of Health Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Luis Rodríguez Hermosa
- grid.414780.ePulmonology Department, Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain ,grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Carlos Martínez Rivera
- grid.413448.e0000 0000 9314 1427Network of Centers for Biomedical Research On Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain ,grid.411438.b0000 0004 1767 6330Pulmonology Department, Research Institute of Germans Trias I Pujol (IGTiP), Germans Trias I Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - María Torres Durán
- Pulmonology Department, Health Research Institute of Galicia Sur (IISGS), Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital, Estrada Clara Campoamor, 342. 36312 Vigo, Spain
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3
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Cooper KM, Colletta A, Asirwatham AM, Moore Simas TA, Devuni D. COVID-19 associated liver injury: A general review with special consideration of pregnancy and obstetric outcomes. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6017-6033. [PMID: 36405386 PMCID: PMC9669825 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i42.6017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver injury is an increasingly recognized extra-pulmonary manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated liver injury (COVALI) is a clinical syndrome encompassing all patients with biochemical liver injury identified in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite profound clinical implications, its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Unfortunately, most information on COVALI is derived from the general population and may not be applicable to individuals under-represented in research, including pregnant individuals. This manuscript reviews: Clinical features of COVALI, leading theories of COVALI, and existing literature on COVALI during pregnancy, a topic not widely explored in the literature. Ultimately, we synthesized data from the general and perinatal populations that demonstrates COVALI to be a hepatocellular transaminitis that is likely induced by systemic inflammation and that is strongly associated with disease severity and poorer clinical outcome, and offered perspective on approaching transaminitis in the potentially COVID-19 positive patient in the obstetric setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Cooper
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Alessandro Colletta
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Alison M. Asirwatham
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Tiffany A. Moore Simas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
- Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Population & Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
| | - Deepika Devuni
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 1605, United States
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4
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Pertzov B, Shapira G, Abushkara S, Cohen S, Turjeman A, Kramer MR, Gurwitz D, Shomron N. Lower serum alpha 1 antitrypsin levels in patients with severe COVID-19 compared with patients hospitalized due to non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Infect Dis (Lond) 2022; 54:846-851. [PMID: 35975662 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2022.2111464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT) is the major human blood serine protease inhibitor. Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), which is crucial for SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, is inhibited by A1AT. Therefore, we hypothesized that individuals with diminished levels of A1AT may be more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 disease. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the level of A1AT in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in comparison to hospitalized patients with non-COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS We conducted an observational prospective study between October 2020 and April 2021 in Rabin Medical Centre in Israel. A1AT levels were measured from the routine serum samples of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia (control group). The primary outcome was A1AT level, secondary outcomes were clinical outcomes and predictors of morality. RESULTS Overall, 145 patients were included in the study, 98 in the COVID-19 group and 47 in the control group. The median A1AT level was 222 mg/dL (interquartile range (IQR) 188-269) and 258 mg/dL (IQR 210-281) in the COVID-19 and control groups, respectively (p = .045). Multivariate analysis for independent risk factors for mortality among COVID-19 patients showed that diabetes mellitus (p = .02), older age (p = .04), and high A1AT levels (p = .04) were all associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSION Patients admitted due to severe COVID-19 had lower A1AT levels in comparison to patients admitted due to non-COVID pneumonia. This observation may suggest an association between mildly diminished A1AT and higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection with severe COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barak Pertzov
- Pulmonary institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.,Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Guy Shapira
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Edmond J Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Simon Abushkara
- Pulmonary institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Sharon Cohen
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Biochemistry and Pharmacology Laboratory, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Adi Turjeman
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Medicine E, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Mordechai R Kramer
- Pulmonary institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.,Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - David Gurwitz
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noam Shomron
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Edmond J Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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5
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Fé LXSGM, Cipolatti EP, Pinto MCC, Branco S, Nogueira FCS, Ortiz GMD, Pinheiro ADS, Manoel EA. Enzymes in the time of COVID-19: An overview about the effects in the human body, enzyme market, and perspectives for new drugs. Med Res Rev 2022; 42:2126-2167. [PMID: 35762498 PMCID: PMC9350392 DOI: 10.1002/med.21919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The rising pandemic caused by a coronavirus, resulted in a scientific quest to discover some effective treatments against its etiologic agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). This research represented a significant scientific landmark and resulted in many medical advances. However, efforts to understand the viral mechanism of action and how the human body machinery is subverted during the infection are still ongoing. Herein, we contributed to this field with this compilation of the roles of both viral and human enzymes in the context of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In this sense, this overview reports that proteases are vital for the infection to take place: from SARS‐CoV‐2 perspective, the main protease (Mpro) and papain‐like protease (PLpro) are highlighted; from the human body, angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2, transmembrane serine protease‐2, and cathepsins (CatB/L) are pointed out. In addition, the influence of the virus on other enzymes is reported as the JAK/STAT pathway and the levels of lipase, enzymes from the cholesterol metabolism pathway, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase are also be disturbed in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Finally, this paper discusses the importance of detailed enzymatic studies for future treatments against SARS‐CoV‐2, and how some issues related to the syndrome treatment can create opportunities in the biotechnological market of enzymes and the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Xavier Soares Gomes Moura Fé
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eliane Pereira Cipolatti
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Martina Costa Cerqueira Pinto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Chemical Engineering Program, Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós-graduação e Pesquisa de Engenharia (COPPE), Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Suema Branco
- Biofísica Ambiental, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fábio César Sousa Nogueira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gisela Maria Dellamora Ortiz
- Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anderson de Sá Pinheiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Evelin Andrade Manoel
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Tecnologia (CT), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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6
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Blagec K, Barbosa-Silva A, Ott S, Samwald M. A curated, ontology-based, large-scale knowledge graph of artificial intelligence tasks and benchmarks. Sci Data 2022; 9:322. [PMID: 35715466 PMCID: PMC9205953 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01435-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Research in artificial intelligence (AI) is addressing a growing number of tasks through a rapidly growing number of models and methodologies. This makes it difficult to keep track of where novel AI methods are successfully - or still unsuccessfully - applied, how progress is measured, how different advances might synergize with each other, and how future research should be prioritized. To help address these issues, we created the Intelligence Task Ontology and Knowledge Graph (ITO), a comprehensive, richly structured and manually curated resource on artificial intelligence tasks, benchmark results and performance metrics. The current version of ITO contains 685,560 edges, 1,100 classes representing AI processes and 1,995 properties representing performance metrics. The primary goal of ITO is to enable analyses of the global landscape of AI tasks and capabilities. ITO is based on technologies that allow for easy integration and enrichment with external data, automated inference and continuous, collaborative expert curation of underlying ontological models. We make the ITO dataset and a collection of Jupyter notebooks utilizing ITO openly available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Blagec
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adriano Barbosa-Silva
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Vienna, Austria
| | - Simon Ott
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Samwald
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Vienna, Austria.
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7
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Akbasheva OE, Spirina LV, Dyakov DA, Masunova NV. [Proteolysis and deficiency of α1-proteinase inhibitor in SARS-CoV-2 infection]. BIOMEDITSINSKAIA KHIMIIA 2022; 68:157-176. [PMID: 35717581 DOI: 10.18097/pbmc20226803157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemia had stimulated the numerous publications emergence on the α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI, α1-antitrypsin), primarily when it was found that high mortality in some regions corresponded to the regions with deficient α1-PI alleles. By analogy with the last century's data, when the root cause of the α1-antitrypsin, genetic deficiency leading to the elastase activation in pulmonary emphysema, was proven. It is evident that proteolysis hyperactivation in COVID-19 may be associated with α1-PI impaired functions. The purpose of this review is to systematize scientific data, critical directions for translational studies on the role of α1-PI in SARS-CoV-2-induced proteolysis hyperactivation as a diagnostic marker and a target in therapy. This review describes the proteinase-dependent stages of a viral infection: the reception and virus penetration into the cell, the plasma aldosterone-angiotensin-renin, kinins, blood clotting systems imbalance. The ACE2, TMPRSS, ADAM17, furin, cathepsins, trypsin- and elastase-like serine proteinases role in the virus tropism, proteolytic cascades activation in blood, and the COVID-19-dependent complications is presented. The analysis of scientific reports on the α1-PI implementation in the SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation, the links with the infection severity, and comorbidities were carried out. Particular attention is paid to the acquired α1-PI deficiency in assessing the patients with the proteolysis overactivation and chronic non-inflammatory diseases that are accompanied by the risk factors for the comorbidities progression, and the long-term consequences of COVID-19 initiation. Analyzed data on the search and proteases inhibitory drugs usage in the bronchopulmonary cardiovascular pathologies therapy are essential. It becomes evident the antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-apoptotic effect of α1-PI. The prominent data and prospects for its application as a targeted drug in the SARS-CoV-2 acquired pneumonia and related disorders are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L V Spirina
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia; Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk, Russia
| | - D A Dyakov
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - N V Masunova
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia
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8
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Kaur N, Sharma P, Aditya A, Shanavas A. Taking leads out of nature, can nano deliver us from COVID-like pandemics? Biomed Phys Eng Express 2022; 8. [PMID: 35078168 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac4ec8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis has alerted the research community to re-purpose scientific tools that can effectively manage emergency pandemic situations. Researchers were never so desperate to discover a 'magic bullet' that has significant clinical benefits with minimal or no side effects. At the beginning of the pandemic, due to restricted access to traditional laboratory techniques, many research groups delved into computational screening of thousands of lead molecules that could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 at one or more stages of its infectious cycle. Several in silico studies on natural derivatives point out their potency against SARS-CoV-2 proteins. However, theoretical predictions and existing knowledge on related molecules reflect their poor oral bioavailability due to biotransformation in the gut and liver. Nanotechnology has evolved into a key field for precise and controlled delivery of various drugs that lack aqueous solubility, have low oral bioavailability and possess pronounced toxicity in their native form. In this review, we discuss various nanoformulations of natural products with favorable ADME properties, and also briefly explore nano-drug delivery to lungs, the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Natural products are also envisioned to augment nanotechnology-based 1) personnel protective equipment for ex vivo viral inactivation and 2) wearable sensors that perform rapid and non-invasive analysis of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath of the infected person after therapeutic food consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet Kaur
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Sector 81, Knowledge city, Mohali, 140306, INDIA
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Sector 81, Knowledge city, Mohali, 140306, INDIA
| | - Adrija Aditya
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Sector 81, Knowledge city, Mohali, 140306, INDIA
| | - Asifkhan Shanavas
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Sector 81, Knowledge city, Mohali, 140306, INDIA
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9
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Xu YM, Inacio MC, Liu MX, Gunatilaka AAL. Discovery of diminazene as a dual inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 human host proteases TMPRSS2 and furin using cell-based assays. CURRENT RESEARCH IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY 2022; 2:100023. [PMID: 35815069 PMCID: PMC8920474 DOI: 10.1016/j.crchbi.2022.100023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The proteases TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease serine 2) and furin are known to play important roles in viral infectivity including systematic COVID-19 infection through priming of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. To discover small-molecules capable of inhibiting these host proteases, we established convenient and cost-effective cell-based assays employing Vero cells overexpressing TMPRSS2 and furin. A cell-based proteolytic assay for broad-spectrum protease inhibitors was also established using human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Evaluation of camostat, nafamostat, and gabexate in these cell-based assays confirmed their known TMPRSS2 inhibitory activities. Diminazene, a veterinary medicinal agent and a known furin inhibitor was found to inhibit both TMPRSS2 and furin with IC50s of 1.35 and 13.2 μM, respectively. Establishment and the use of cell-based assays for evaluation TMPRSS2 and furin inhibitory activity and implications of dual activity of diminazene vs TMPRSS2 and furin are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ming Xu
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
| | - Marielle Cascaes Inacio
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
| | - Manping X Liu
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
| | - A A Leslie Gunatilaka
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85706, USA
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10
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Mahoney M, Damalanka VC, Tartell MA, Chung DH, Lourenço AL, Pwee D, Mayer Bridwell AE, Hoffmann M, Voss J, Karmakar P, Azouz NP, Klingler AM, Rothlauf PW, Thompson CE, Lee M, Klampfer L, Stallings CL, Rothenberg ME, Pöhlmann S, Whelan SPJ, O'Donoghue AJ, Craik CS, Janetka JW. A novel class of TMPRSS2 inhibitors potently block SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV viral entry and protect human epithelial lung cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2108728118. [PMID: 34635581 PMCID: PMC8694051 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108728118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The host cell serine protease TMPRSS2 is an attractive therapeutic target for COVID-19 drug discovery. This protease activates the Spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and of other coronaviruses and is essential for viral spread in the lung. Utilizing rational structure-based drug design (SBDD) coupled to substrate specificity screening of TMPRSS2, we have discovered covalent small-molecule ketobenzothiazole (kbt) TMPRSS2 inhibitors which are structurally distinct from and have significantly improved activity over the existing known inhibitors Camostat and Nafamostat. Lead compound MM3122 (4) has an IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of 340 pM against recombinant full-length TMPRSS2 protein, an EC50 (half-maximal effective concentration) of 430 pM in blocking host cell entry into Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells of a newly developed VSV-SARS-CoV-2 chimeric virus, and an EC50 of 74 nM in inhibiting cytopathic effects induced by SARS-CoV-2 virus in Calu-3 cells. Further, MM3122 blocks Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cell entry with an EC50 of 870 pM. MM3122 has excellent metabolic stability, safety, and pharmacokinetics in mice, with a half-life of 8.6 h in plasma and 7.5 h in lung tissue, making it suitable for in vivo efficacy evaluation and a promising drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Mahoney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
- ProteXase Therapeutics, Inc., Saint Louis, MO 63108
| | - Vishnu C Damalanka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Michael A Tartell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
- Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Dong Hee Chung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - André Luiz Lourenço
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Dustin Pwee
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Anne E Mayer Bridwell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen 37077, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Jorine Voss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Partha Karmakar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Nurit P Azouz
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Andrea M Klingler
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Paul W Rothlauf
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
- Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Cassandra E Thompson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Melody Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | | | - Christina L Stallings
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Marc E Rothenberg
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen 37077, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Sean P J Whelan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Anthony J O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Charles S Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - James W Janetka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110;
- ProteXase Therapeutics, Inc., Saint Louis, MO 63108
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11
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Shah SB. COVID-19 and Progesterone: Part 1.SARS-CoV-2, Progesterone and its potential clinical use. ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC SCIENCE 2021; 5:100109. [PMID: 34396353 PMCID: PMC8349425 DOI: 10.1016/j.endmts.2021.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection is a global medical challenge. Experience based medicines and therapies are being attempted and vaccines are being developed. SARS-CoV-2 exhibits varied patterns of infection and clinical presentations with varied disease outcomes. These attributes are strongly suggestive of some variables that differ among individuals and that affect the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptoms of COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease of 2019). Sex hormones vary with ageing, between the sexes, among individuals and populations. Sex hormones are known to play a role in immunity and infections. Progesterone is a critical host factor to promote faster recovery following Influenza A virus infection. Anti-inflammatory effects of progesterone are noted. In part 1 of the current study the regulatory role of progesterone for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 is analyzed. The role of progesterone at different stages of the SARS CoV-2 infection is investigated with respect to two types of immunity status: immune regulation and immune dysregulation. Progesterone could have various alleviating impacts from SARS-CoV-2 entry till recovery: reversing of hypoxia, stabilizing of blood pressure, controlling thrombosis, balancing electrolytes, reducing the viral load, regulation of immune responses, damage repair, and clearance of debris among others. The present research adds to the available evidence by providing a comprehensive and thorough evaluation of the regulatory role of progesterone in SARS COV-2 infection, COVID-19 pathogenesis, and immune dysregulation. The available evidence has implications for upcoming studies about pathophysiology of COVID-19, as well as the roles of progesterone and other hormones in other infectious diseases.
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12
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Carroll EL, Bailo M, Reihill JA, Crilly A, Lockhart JC, Litherland GJ, Lundy FT, McGarvey LP, Hollywood MA, Martin SL. Trypsin-Like Proteases and Their Role in Muco-Obstructive Lung Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5817. [PMID: 34072295 PMCID: PMC8199346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypsin-like proteases (TLPs) belong to a family of serine enzymes with primary substrate specificities for the basic residues, lysine and arginine, in the P1 position. Whilst initially perceived as soluble enzymes that are extracellularly secreted, a number of novel TLPs that are anchored in the cell membrane have since been discovered. Muco-obstructive lung diseases (MucOLDs) are characterised by the accumulation of hyper-concentrated mucus in the small airways, leading to persistent inflammation, infection and dysregulated protease activity. Although neutrophilic serine proteases, particularly neutrophil elastase, have been implicated in the propagation of inflammation and local tissue destruction, it is likely that the serine TLPs also contribute to various disease-relevant processes given the roles that a number of these enzymes play in the activation of both the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). More recently, significant attention has focused on the activation of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 by host TLPs. The purpose of this review was to highlight key TLPs linked to the activation of ENaC and PAR2 and their association with airway dehydration and inflammatory signalling pathways, respectively. The role of TLPs in viral infectivity will also be discussed in the context of the inhibition of TLP activities and the potential of these proteases as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Carroll
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (E.L.C.); (J.A.R.)
| | - Mariarca Bailo
- Institute for Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK; (M.B.); (A.C.); (J.C.L.); (G.J.L.)
| | - James A. Reihill
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (E.L.C.); (J.A.R.)
| | - Anne Crilly
- Institute for Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK; (M.B.); (A.C.); (J.C.L.); (G.J.L.)
| | - John C. Lockhart
- Institute for Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK; (M.B.); (A.C.); (J.C.L.); (G.J.L.)
| | - Gary J. Litherland
- Institute for Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK; (M.B.); (A.C.); (J.C.L.); (G.J.L.)
| | - Fionnuala T. Lundy
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (F.T.L.); (L.P.M.)
| | - Lorcan P. McGarvey
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (F.T.L.); (L.P.M.)
| | - Mark A. Hollywood
- Smooth Muscle Research Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology, A91 HRK2 Dundalk, Ireland;
| | - S. Lorraine Martin
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (E.L.C.); (J.A.R.)
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Bianchera A, Alomari E, Bruno S. Augmentation therapy with alpha 1-antitrypsin: present and future of production, formulation, and delivery. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:385-410. [PMID: 34036902 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210525161942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alpha 1-antitrypsin is one of the first protein therapeutics introduced on the market - more than 30 years ago - and, to date, it is indicated only for the treatment of the severe forms of a genetic condition known as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The only approved preparations are derived from plasma, posing potential problems associated with its limited supply and high processing costs. Moreover, augmentation therapy with alpha 1-antitrypsin is still limited to intravenous infusions, a cumbersome regimen for patients. Here, we review the recent literature on its possible future developments, focusing on i) the recombinant alternatives to the plasma-derived protein, ii) novel formulations, and iii) novel administration routes. Regulatory issues and the still unclear noncanonical functions of alpha 1-antitrypsin - possibly associated with the glycosylation pattern found only in the plasma-derived protein - have hindered the introduction of new products. However, potentially new therapeutic indications other than the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency might open the way to new sources and new formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Bianchera
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Esraa Alomari
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Bruno
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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14
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Mahoney M, Damalanka VC, Tartell MA, Chung DH, Lourenco AL, Pwee D, Mayer Bridwell AE, Hoffmann M, Voss J, Karmakar P, Azouz N, Klingler AM, Rothlauf PW, Thompson CE, Lee M, Klampfer L, Stallings C, Rothenberg ME, Pöhlmann S, Whelan SP, O'Donoghue AJ, Craik CS, Janetka JW. A novel class of TMPRSS2 inhibitors potently block SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV viral entry and protect human epithelial lung cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34131661 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.06.442935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The host cell serine protease TMPRSS2 is an attractive therapeutic target for COVID-19 drug discovery. This protease activates the Spike protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and of other coronaviruses and is essential for viral spread in the lung. Utilizing rational structure-based drug design (SBDD) coupled to substrate specificity screening of TMPRSS2, we have discovered a novel class of small molecule ketobenzothiazole TMPRSS2 inhibitors with significantly improved activity over existing irreversible inhibitors Camostat and Nafamostat. Lead compound MM3122 ( 4 ) has an IC 50 of 340 pM against recombinant full-length TMPRSS2 protein, an EC 50 of 430 pM in blocking host cell entry into Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells of a newly developed VSV SARS-CoV-2 chimeric virus, and an EC 50 of 74 nM in inhibiting cytopathic effects induced by SARS-CoV-2 virus in Calu-3 cells. Further, MM3122 blocks Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cell entry with an EC 50 of 870 pM. MM3122 has excellent metabolic stability, safety, and pharmacokinetics in mice with a half-life of 8.6 hours in plasma and 7.5 h in lung tissue, making it suitable for in vivo efficacy evaluation and a promising drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment.
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15
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Correlation of Low Levels of α-1 Antitrypsin and Elevation of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio with Higher Mortality in Severe COVID-19 Patients. Mediators Inflamm 2021; 2021:5555619. [PMID: 34007243 PMCID: PMC8080869 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5555619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Variations in COVID-19 prevalence, severity, and mortality rate remain ambiguous. Genetic or individual differences in immune response may be an explanation. Moreover, hyperinflammation and dysregulated immune response are involved in the etiology of severe forms of COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze serum alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels, as an acute-phase plasma protein with immunomodulatory effect and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker of inflammation response in severe COVID-19 illness. Methods In this retrospective observational cohort study, 64 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive COVID-19 hospitalized patients were studied for AAT, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), troponin, complete blood count (CBC), random blood sugar, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), and arterial oxygen saturation (O2sat) at admission and during hospitalization. Results The results showed that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had low serum levels of AAT and high CRP levels at the first days of hospitalization. In particular, the percentages of individuals with low, normal, and high AAT levels were 7.80%, 82.80%, and 9.40%, respectively, while high and low values of CRP accounted for 86.70% and 13.30% of patients. Most of the patients had an upward neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) trend, with a higher mortality rate (p < 0.05) and troponin levels (p < 0.05). However, comorbidities, CRP alterations, ESR alterations, nonfasting blood sugar, SGOT, SGPT, O2sat, RBC, and PLT values were not significantly different between the NLR downward and upward trend groups. Conclusions The current study revealed that severe COVID-19 patients had low serum AAT levels related to CRP values. Therefore, AAT response may be considered as a new mechanism by which some COVID-19 patients show immune dysregulation and more severe symptoms.
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16
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Kanimozhi G, Pradhapsingh B, Singh Pawar C, Khan HA, Alrokayan SH, Prasad NR. SARS-CoV-2: Pathogenesis, Molecular Targets and Experimental Models. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:638334. [PMID: 33967772 PMCID: PMC8100521 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.638334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a recent pandemic outbreak threatening human beings worldwide. This novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection causes severe morbidity and mortality and rapidly spreading across the countries. Therefore, there is an urgent need for basic fundamental research to understand the pathogenesis and druggable molecular targets of SARS-CoV-2. Recent sequencing data of the viral genome and X-ray crystallographic data of the viral proteins illustrate potential molecular targets that need to be investigated for structure-based drug design. Further, the SARS-CoV-2 viral pathogen isolated from clinical samples needs to be cultivated and titrated. All of these scenarios demand suitable laboratory experimental models. The experimental models should mimic the viral life cycle as it happens in the human lung epithelial cells. Recently, researchers employing primary human lung epithelial cells, intestinal epithelial cells, experimental cell lines like Vero cells, CaCo-2 cells, HEK-293, H1299, Calu-3 for understanding viral titer values. The human iPSC-derived lung organoids, small intestinal organoids, and blood vessel organoids increase interest among researchers to understand SARS-CoV-2 biology and treatment outcome. The SARS-CoV-2 enters the human lung epithelial cells using viral Spike (S1) protein and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor. The laboratory mouse show poor ACE-2 expression and thereby inefficient SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, there was an urgent need to develop transgenic hACE-2 mouse models to understand antiviral agents' therapeutic outcomes. This review highlighted the viral pathogenesis, potential druggable molecular targets, and suitable experimental models for basic fundamental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Kanimozhi
- Department of Biochemistry, Dharmapuram Gnanambigai Government Arts College for Women, Mayiladuthurai, India
| | - B. Pradhapsingh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, India
| | - Charan Singh Pawar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, India
| | - Haseeb A. Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salman H. Alrokayan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - N. Rajendra Prasad
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, India
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17
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Hörnich BF, Großkopf AK, Schlagowski S, Tenbusch M, Kleine-Weber H, Neipel F, Stahl-Hennig C, Hahn AS. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Spike-Mediated Cell-Cell Fusion Differ in Their Requirements for Receptor Expression and Proteolytic Activation. J Virol 2021; 95:e00002-21. [PMID: 33608407 PMCID: PMC8104116 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00002-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects cells through interaction of its spike protein (SARS2-S) with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and activation by proteases, in particular transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Viruses can also spread through fusion of infected with uninfected cells. We compared the requirements of ACE2 expression, proteolytic activation, and sensitivity to inhibitors for SARS2-S-mediated and SARS-CoV-S (SARS1-S)-mediated cell-cell fusion. SARS2-S-driven fusion was moderately increased by TMPRSS2 and strongly by ACE2, while SARS1-S-driven fusion was strongly increased by TMPRSS2 and less so by ACE2 expression. In contrast to that of SARS1-S, SARS2-S-mediated cell-cell fusion was efficiently activated by batimastat-sensitive metalloproteases. Mutation of the S1/S2 proteolytic cleavage site reduced effector cell-target cell fusion when ACE2 or TMPRSS2 was limiting and rendered SARS2-S-driven cell-cell fusion more dependent on TMPRSS2. When both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were abundant, initial target cell-effector cell fusion was unaltered compared to that of wild-type (wt) SARS2-S, but syncytia remained smaller. Mutation of the S2 cleavage (S2') site specifically abrogated activation by TMPRSS2 for both cell-cell fusion and SARS2-S-driven pseudoparticle entry but still allowed for activation by metalloproteases for cell-cell fusion and by cathepsins for particle entry. Finally, we found that the TMPRSS2 inhibitor bromhexine, unlike the inhibitor camostat, was unable to reduce TMPRSS2-activated cell-cell fusion by SARS1-S and SARS2-S. Paradoxically, bromhexine enhanced cell-cell fusion in the presence of TMPRSS2, while its metabolite ambroxol exhibited inhibitory activity under some conditions. On Calu-3 lung cells, ambroxol weakly inhibited SARS2-S-driven lentiviral pseudoparticle entry, and both substances exhibited a dose-dependent trend toward weak inhibition of authentic SARS-CoV-2.IMPORTANCE Cell-cell fusion allows viruses to infect neighboring cells without the need to produce free virus and contributes to tissue damage by creating virus-infected syncytia. Our results demonstrate that the S2' cleavage site is essential for activation by TMPRSS2 and unravel important differences between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, among those, greater dependence of SARS-CoV-2 on ACE2 expression and activation by metalloproteases for cell-cell fusion. Bromhexine, reportedly an inhibitor of TMPRSS2, is currently being tested in clinical trials against coronavirus disease 2019. Our results indicate that bromhexine enhances fusion under some conditions. We therefore caution against the use of bromhexine in high dosages until its effects on SARS-CoV-2 spike activation are better understood. The related compound ambroxol, which similarly to bromhexine is clinically used as an expectorant, did not exhibit activating effects on cell-cell fusion. Both compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection at high concentrations, which might be clinically attainable for ambroxol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojan F Hörnich
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna K Großkopf
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Schlagowski
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Virologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hannah Kleine-Weber
- Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frank Neipel
- Virologisches Institut, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Stahl-Hennig
- Abteilung Infektionsmodelle, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander S Hahn
- Nachwuchsgruppe Herpesviren, Abteilung Infektionsbiologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum-Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
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18
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Yaron JR, Zhang L, Guo Q, Haydel SE, Lucas AR. Fibrinolytic Serine Proteases, Therapeutic Serpins and Inflammation: Fire Dancers and Firestorms. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:648947. [PMID: 33869309 PMCID: PMC8044766 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.648947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The making and breaking of clots orchestrated by the thrombotic and thrombolytic serine protease cascades are critical determinants of morbidity and mortality during infection and with vascular or tissue injury. Both the clot forming (thrombotic) and the clot dissolving (thrombolytic or fibrinolytic) cascades are composed of a highly sensitive and complex relationship of sequentially activated serine proteases and their regulatory inhibitors in the circulating blood. The proteases and inhibitors interact continuously throughout all branches of the cardiovascular system in the human body, representing one of the most abundant groups of proteins in the blood. There is an intricate interaction of the coagulation cascades with endothelial cell surface receptors lining the vascular tree, circulating immune cells, platelets and connective tissue encasing the arterial layers. Beyond their role in control of bleeding and clotting, the thrombotic and thrombolytic cascades initiate immune cell responses, representing a front line, "off-the-shelf" system for inducing inflammatory responses. These hemostatic pathways are one of the first response systems after injury with the fibrinolytic cascade being one of the earliest to evolve in primordial immune responses. An equally important contributor and parallel ancient component of these thrombotic and thrombolytic serine protease cascades are the serine protease inhibitors, termed serpins. Serpins are metastable suicide inhibitors with ubiquitous roles in coagulation and fibrinolysis as well as multiple central regulatory pathways throughout the body. Serpins are now known to also modulate the immune response, either via control of thrombotic and thrombolytic cascades or via direct effects on cellular phenotypes, among many other functions. Here we review the co-evolution of the thrombolytic cascade and the immune response in disease and in treatment. We will focus on the relevance of these recent advances in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is a "respiratory" coronavirus that causes extensive cardiovascular pathogenesis, with microthrombi throughout the vascular tree, resulting in severe and potentially fatal coagulopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan R. Yaron
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics and Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Liqiang Zhang
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics and Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Qiuyun Guo
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics and Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Shelley E. Haydel
- Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Alexandra R. Lucas
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics and Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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19
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Alpha-1 antitrypsin inhibits TMPRSS2 protease activity and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1726. [PMID: 33741941 PMCID: PMC7979852 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21972-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory pathogen and primarily infects the airway epithelium. As our knowledge about innate immune factors of the respiratory tract against SARS-CoV-2 is limited, we generated and screened a peptide/protein library derived from bronchoalveolar lavage for inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 spike-driven entry. Analysis of antiviral fractions revealed the presence of α1-antitrypsin (α1AT), a highly abundant circulating serine protease inhibitor. Here, we report that α1AT inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry at physiological concentrations and suppresses viral replication in cell lines and primary cells including human airway epithelial cultures. We further demonstrate that α1AT binds and inactivates the serine protease TMPRSS2, which enzymatically primes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for membrane fusion. Thus, the acute phase protein α1AT is an inhibitor of TMPRSS2 and SARS-CoV-2 entry, and may play an important role in the innate immune defense against the novel coronavirus. Our findings suggest that repurposing of α1AT-containing drugs has prospects for the therapy of COVID-19. Here, via screening of a polypeptide library from bronchoalveolar lavage, the authors identify and characterize α1-antitrypsin (α1AT) as SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor and show that α1AT binds and inactivates the serine protease TMPRSS2, which enzymatically primes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for membrane fusion.
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20
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Peng Y, Tao H, Satyanarayanan SK, Jin K, Su H. A Comprehensive Summary of the Knowledge on COVID-19 Treatment. Aging Dis 2021; 12:155-191. [PMID: 33532135 PMCID: PMC7801274 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2020.1124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, the world is challenged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Epidemiologists and researchers worldwide are invariably trying to understand and combat this precarious new disease. Scrutinizing available drug options and developing potential new drugs are urgent needs to subdue this pandemic. Several intervention strategies are being considered and handled worldwide with limited success, and many drug candidates are yet in the trial phase. Despite these limitations, the development of COVID-19 treatment strategies has been accelerated to improve the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19, and some countries have efficiently kept it under control. Recently, the use of natural and traditional medicine has also set the trend in coronavirus treatment. This review aimed to discuss the prevailing COVID-19 treatment strategies available globally by examining their efficacy, potential mechanisms, limitations, and challenges in predicting a future potential treatment candidate and bridging them with the effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The findings might enrich the knowledge on traditional alternative medication and its complementary role with Western medicine in managing the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
| | - Hongxun Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
| | - Senthil Kumaran Satyanarayanan
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
| | - Kunlin Jin
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
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21
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The role of chemical biology in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. Biochem J 2021; 478:157-177. [PMID: 33439990 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Since late 2019, biomedical labs all over the world have been struggling to cope with the 'new normal' and to find ways in which they can contribute to the fight against COVID-19. In this unique situation where a biomedical issue dominates people's lives and the news cycle, chemical biology has a great deal to contribute. This review will describe the importance of science at the chemistry/biology interface to both understand and combat the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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22
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Bai X, Hippensteel J, Leavitt A, Maloney JP, Beckham D, Garcia C, Li Q, Freed BM, Ordway D, Sandhaus RA, Chan ED. Hypothesis: Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a promising treatment option for COVID-19. Med Hypotheses 2021; 146:110394. [PMID: 33239231 PMCID: PMC7659642 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
No definitive treatment for COVID-19 exists although promising results have been reported with remdesivir and glucocorticoids. Short of a truly effective preventive or curative vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, it is becoming increasingly clear that multiple pathophysiologic processes seen with COVID-19 as well as SARS-CoV-2 itself should be targeted. Because alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) embraces a panoply of biologic activities that may antagonize several pathophysiologic mechanisms induced by SARS-CoV-2, we hypothesize that this naturally occurring molecule is a promising agent to ameliorate COVID-19. We posit at least seven different mechanisms by which AAT may alleviate COVID-19. First, AAT is a serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) shown to inhibit TMPRSS-2, the host serine protease that cleaves the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, a necessary preparatory step for the virus to bind its cell surface receptor ACE2 to gain intracellular entry. Second, AAT has anti-viral activity against other RNA viruses HIV and influenza as well as induces autophagy, a known host effector mechanism against MERS-CoV, a related coronavirus that causes the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Third, AAT has potent anti-inflammatory properties, in part through inhibiting both nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) activation and ADAM17 (also known as tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme), and thus may dampen the hyper-inflammatory response of COVID-19. Fourth, AAT inhibits neutrophil elastase, a serine protease that helps recruit potentially injurious neutrophils and implicated in acute lung injury. AAT inhibition of ADAM17 also prevents shedding of ACE2 and hence may preserve ACE2 inhibition of bradykinin, reducing the ability of bradykinin to cause a capillary leak in COVID-19. Fifth, AAT inhibits thrombin, and venous thromboembolism and in situ microthrombi and macrothrombi are increasingly implicated in COVID-19. Sixth, AAT inhibition of elastase can antagonize the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a complex extracellular structure comprised of neutrophil-derived DNA, histones, and proteases, and implicated in the immunothrombosis of COVID-19; indeed, AAT has been shown to change the shape and adherence of non-COVID-19-related NETs. Seventh, AAT inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis may limit the endothelial injury linked to severe COVID-19-associated acute lung injury, multi-organ dysfunction, and pre-eclampsia-like syndrome seen in gravid women. Furthermore, because both NETs formation and the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies are increased in both COVID-19 and non-COVID pre-eclampsia, it suggests a similar vascular pathogenesis in both disorders. As a final point, AAT has an excellent safety profile when administered to patients with AAT deficiency and is dosed intravenously once weekly but also comes in an inhaled preparation. Thus, AAT is an appealing drug candidate to treat COVID-19 and should be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Bai
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; Departments of Academic Affairs and Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, USA
| | - Joseph Hippensteel
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, USA; Denver Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - James P Maloney
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, USA
| | - David Beckham
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Immunology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Cindy Garcia
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Qing Li
- Departments of Academic Affairs and Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Brian M Freed
- Department of Immunology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Diane Ordway
- Department of Microbiology, Immunlogy, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Robert A Sandhaus
- Departments of Academic Affairs and Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Edward D Chan
- Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; Departments of Academic Affairs and Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, USA.
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23
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Hempel T, Raich L, Olsson S, Azouz NP, Klingler AM, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Rothenberg ME, Noé F. Molecular mechanism of inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry facilitator TMPRSS2 with camostat and nafamostat. Chem Sci 2021; 12:983-992. [PMID: 35382133 PMCID: PMC8906443 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc05064d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The entry of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 into human lung cells can be inhibited by the approved drugs camostat and nafamostat. Here we elucidate the molecular mechanism of these drugs by combining experiments and simulations. In vitro assays confirm that both drugs inhibit the human protein TMPRSS2, a SARS-Cov-2 spike protein activator. As no experimental structure is available, we provide a model of the TMPRSS2 equilibrium structure and its fluctuations by relaxing an initial homology structure with extensive 330 microseconds of all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) and Markov modeling. Through Markov modeling, we describe the binding process of both drugs and a metabolic product of camostat (GBPA) to TMPRSS2, reaching a Michaelis complex (MC) state, which precedes the formation of a long-lived covalent inhibitory state. We find that nafamostat has a higher MC population than camostat and GBPA, suggesting that nafamostat is more readily available to form the stable covalent enzyme–substrate intermediate, effectively explaining its high potency. This model is backed by our in vitro experiments and consistent with previous virus cell entry assays. Our TMPRSS2–drug structures are made public to guide the design of more potent and specific inhibitors. The authors unravel the molecular action principle of nafamostat and camostat, two potential COVID-19 drugs targeting the human protein TMPRSS2.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Hempel
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Berlin
- Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin
| | - Lluís Raich
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Berlin
- Germany
| | - Simon Olsson
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Berlin
- Germany
- Chalmers University of Technology
| | - Nurit P. Azouz
- Division of Allergy and Immunology
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
- Department of Pediatrics
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Cincinnati
| | - Andrea M. Klingler
- Division of Allergy and Immunology
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
- Department of Pediatrics
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Cincinnati
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit
- German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research
- Göttingen
- Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit
- German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research
- Göttingen
- Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology
| | - Marc E. Rothenberg
- Division of Allergy and Immunology
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
- Department of Pediatrics
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Cincinnati
| | - Frank Noé
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
- Berlin
- Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin
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24
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Lechowicz U, Rudzinski S, Jezela-Stanek A, Janciauskiene S, Chorostowska-Wynimko J. Post-Translational Modifications of Circulating Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9187. [PMID: 33276468 PMCID: PMC7731214 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), an acute-phase protein encoded by the SERPINA1 gene, is a member of the serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) superfamily. Its primary function is to protect tissues from enzymes released during inflammation, such as neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3. In addition to its antiprotease activity, AAT interacts with numerous other substances and has various functions, mainly arising from the conformational flexibility of normal variants of AAT. Therefore, AAT has diverse biological functions and plays a role in various pathophysiological processes. This review discusses major molecular forms of AAT, including complex, cleaved, glycosylated, oxidized, and S-nitrosylated forms, in terms of their origin and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Lechowicz
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland; (U.L.); (S.R.); (A.J.-S.); (S.J.)
| | - Stefan Rudzinski
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland; (U.L.); (S.R.); (A.J.-S.); (S.J.)
| | - Aleksandra Jezela-Stanek
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland; (U.L.); (S.R.); (A.J.-S.); (S.J.)
| | - Sabina Janciauskiene
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland; (U.L.); (S.R.); (A.J.-S.); (S.J.)
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research DZL, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover BREATH, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 01-138 Warsaw, Poland; (U.L.); (S.R.); (A.J.-S.); (S.J.)
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25
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Bojkova D, Bechtel M, McLaughlin KM, McGreig JE, Klann K, Bellinghausen C, Rohde G, Jonigk D, Braubach P, Ciesek S, Münch C, Wass MN, Michaelis M, Cinatl J. Aprotinin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication. Cells 2020; 9:E2377. [PMID: 33143316 PMCID: PMC7692688 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the current coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Protease inhibitors are under consideration as virus entry inhibitors that prevent the cleavage of the coronavirus spike (S) protein by cellular proteases. Herein, we showed that the protease inhibitor aprotinin (but not the protease inhibitor SERPINA1/alpha-1 antitrypsin) inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in therapeutically achievable concentrations. An analysis of proteomics and translatome data indicated that SARS-CoV-2 replication is associated with a downregulation of host cell protease inhibitors. Hence, aprotinin may compensate for downregulated host cell proteases during later virus replication cycles. Aprotinin displayed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in different cell types (Caco2, Calu-3, and primary bronchial epithelial cell air-liquid interface cultures) and against four virus isolates. In conclusion, therapeutic aprotinin concentrations exert anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. An approved aprotinin aerosol may have potential for the early local control of SARS-CoV-2 replication and the prevention of COVID-19 progression to a severe, systemic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisa Bojkova
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (D.B.); (M.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Marco Bechtel
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (D.B.); (M.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Katie-May McLaughlin
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (K.-M.M.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Jake E. McGreig
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (K.-M.M.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Kevin Klann
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.K.); (C.M.)
| | - Carla Bellinghausen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (C.B.); (G.R.)
| | - Gernot Rohde
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (C.B.); (G.R.)
| | - Danny Jonigk
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (D.J.); (P.B.)
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), The German Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung, DZL), Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Braubach
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (D.J.); (P.B.)
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), The German Center for Lung Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Lungenforschung, DZL), Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sandra Ciesek
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (D.B.); (M.B.); (S.C.)
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, External Partner Site, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Branch Translational Medicine und Pharmacology, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Münch
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.K.); (C.M.)
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Mark N. Wass
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (K.-M.M.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Martin Michaelis
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK; (K.-M.M.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Jindrich Cinatl
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (D.B.); (M.B.); (S.C.)
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26
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Martini F, De Mattei M, Contini C, Tognon MG. Potential Use of Alpha-1 Anti-trypsin in the Covid-19 Treatment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:577528. [PMID: 33195215 PMCID: PMC7644540 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.577528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Martini
- Laboraotories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Monica De Mattei
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlo Contini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mauro G. Tognon
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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27
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Malik S, Gupta A, Zhong X, Rasmussen TP, Manautou JE, Bahal R. Emerging Therapeutic Modalities against COVID-19. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E188. [PMID: 32784499 PMCID: PMC7465781 DOI: 10.3390/ph13080188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has quickly spread worldwide, bringing the whole world as well as the economy to a standstill. As the world is struggling to minimize the transmission of this devastating disease, several strategies are being actively deployed to develop therapeutic interventions. Pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers are relentlessly working to investigate experimental, repurposed or FDA-approved drugs on a compassionate basis and novel biologics for SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis and treatment. Presently, a tremendous surge of COVID-19 clinical trials are advancing through different stages. Among currently registered clinical efforts, ~86% are centered on testing small molecules or antibodies either alone or in combination with immunomodulators. The rest ~14% of clinical efforts are aimed at evaluating vaccines and convalescent plasma-based therapies to mitigate the disease's symptoms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current therapeutic modalities being evaluated against SARS-CoV-2 virus in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipra Malik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (S.M.); (X.Z.); (T.P.R.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Anisha Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA;
| | - Xiaobo Zhong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (S.M.); (X.Z.); (T.P.R.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Theodore P. Rasmussen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (S.M.); (X.Z.); (T.P.R.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Jose E. Manautou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (S.M.); (X.Z.); (T.P.R.); (J.E.M.)
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (S.M.); (X.Z.); (T.P.R.); (J.E.M.)
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