1
|
Merches K, Breunig L, Fender J, Brand T, Bätz V, Idel S, Kollipara L, Reinders Y, Sickmann A, Mally A, Lorenz K. The potential of remdesivir to affect function, metabolism and proliferation of cardiac and kidney cells in vitro. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2341-2360. [PMID: 35579693 PMCID: PMC9110936 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03306-1] [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: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Remdesivir is a prodrug of a nucleoside analog and the first antiviral therapeutic approved for coronavirus disease. Recent cardiac safety concerns and reports on remdesivir-related acute kidney injury call for a better characterization of remdesivir toxicity and understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we performed an in vitro toxicity assessment of remdesivir around clinically relevant concentrations (Cmax 9 µM) using H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts, neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCM), rat NRK-52E and human RPTEC/TERT1 cells as cell models for the assessment of cardiotoxicity or nephrotoxicity, respectively. Due to the known potential of nucleoside analogs for the induction of mitochondrial toxicity, we assessed mitochondrial function in response to remdesivir treatment, early proteomic changes in NMCM and RPTEC/TERT1 cells and the contractile function of NMCM. Short-term treatments (24 h) of H9c2 and NRK-52E cells with remdesivir adversely affected cell viability by inhibition of proliferation as determined by significantly decreased 3H-thymidine uptake. Mitochondrial toxicity of remdesivir (1.6–3.1 µM) in cardiac cells was evident by a significant decrease in oxygen consumption, a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in lactate secretion after a 24–48-h treatment. This was supported by early proteomic changes of respiratory chain proteins and intermediate filaments that are typically involved in mitochondrial reorganization. Functionally, an impedance-based analysis showed that remdesivir (6.25 µM) affected the beat rate and contractility of NMCM. In conclusion, we identified adverse effects of remdesivir in cardiac and kidney cells at clinically relevant concentrations, suggesting a careful evaluation of therapeutic use in patients at risk for cardiovascular or kidney disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katja Merches
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Leonie Breunig
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Fender
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Theresa Brand
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Bätz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Svenja Idel
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Yvonne Reinders
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany
| | - Albert Sickmann
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, College of Physical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.,Medizinische Fakultät, Medizinisches Proteom-Center (MPC), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Angela Mally
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Lorenz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. .,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany. .,PGS Toxicology and Environmental Protection, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 28, Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|