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Xue Y, Mei H, Chen Y, Griffin JD, Liu Q, Weisberg E, Yang J. Repurposing clinically available drugs and therapies for pathogenic targets to combat SARS-CoV-2. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e254. [PMID: 37193304 PMCID: PMC10183156 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected a large portion of the global population, both physically and mentally. Current evidence suggests that the rapidly evolving coronavirus subvariants risk rendering vaccines and antibodies ineffective due to their potential to evade existing immunity, with enhanced transmission activity and higher reinfection rates that could lead to new outbreaks across the globe. The goal of viral management is to disrupt the viral life cycle as well as to relieve severe symptoms such as lung damage, cytokine storm, and organ failure. In the fight against viruses, the combination of viral genome sequencing, elucidation of the structure of viral proteins, and identifying proteins that are highly conserved across multiple coronaviruses has revealed many potential molecular targets. In addition, the time- and cost-effective repurposing of preexisting antiviral drugs or approved/clinical drugs for these targets offers considerable clinical advantages for COVID-19 patients. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various identified pathogenic targets and pathways as well as corresponding repurposed approved/clinical drugs and their potential against COVID-19. These findings provide new insight into the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies that could be applied to the control of disease symptoms emanating from evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiying Xue
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Husheng Mei
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
- University of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhuiChina
| | - Yisa Chen
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - James D. Griffin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana‐Farber Cancer InstituteBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Qingsong Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
- University of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhuiChina
- Hefei Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
| | - Ellen Weisberg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana‐Farber Cancer InstituteBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
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Wang X, He Z, Zhao X. Immunoregulatory therapy strategies that target cytokine storms in patients with COVID-19 (Review). Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:319. [PMID: 33732292 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A cytokine storm is an uncontrolled, excessive immune response that contributes to the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Viral infections lead to the loss of negative feedback in immune regulation and an abnormal elevation of the levels of multiple cytokines. In COVID-19, this causes diffuse damage to alveolar functions and may culminate in multiple organ dysfunction. Immunoregulatory therapies target the cytokine storms induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, and include monoclonal antibodies, recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interferon, mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy, thymosin, immunoglobulins and blood purification therapies. These approaches may be effective in the alleviation of COVID-19 symptoms. In this review, cytokine storms caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections are evaluated and discussed, and advances in immunoregulatory therapy strategies for patients with COVID-19 are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyao Wang
- Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, P.R. China.,National Joint Local Engineering Laboratory for Cell Engineering and Biomedicine Technique, Guizhou Province Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, P.R. China.,Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, P.R. China
| | - Zhixu He
- National Joint Local Engineering Laboratory for Cell Engineering and Biomedicine Technique, Guizhou Province Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, P.R. China.,Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, P.R. China
| | - Xing Zhao
- Center for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, P.R. China.,National Joint Local Engineering Laboratory for Cell Engineering and Biomedicine Technique, Guizhou Province Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Adult Stem Cell Translational Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, P.R. China.,Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, P.R. China
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Uversky VN, Gillespie JR, Millett IS, Khodyakova AV, Vasiliev AM, Chernovskaya TV, Vasilenko RN, Kozlovskaya GD, Dolgikh DA, Fink AL, Doniach S, Abramov VM. Natively unfolded human prothymosin alpha adopts partially folded collapsed conformation at acidic pH. Biochemistry 1999; 38:15009-16. [PMID: 10555983 DOI: 10.1021/bi990752+] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Prothymosin alpha has previously been shown to be unfolded at neutral pH, thus belonging to a growing family of "natively unfolded" proteins. The structural properties and conformational stability of recombinant human prothymosin alpha were characterized at neutral and acidic pH by gel filtration, SAXS, circular dichroism, ANS fluorescence, (1)H NMR, and resistance to urea-induced unfolding. Interestingly, prothymosin alpha underwent a cooperative transition from the unfolded state into a partially folded conformation on lowering the pH. This conformation of prothymosin alpha is a compact denatured state, with structural properties different from those of the molten globule. The formation of alpha-helical structure by the glutamic acid-rich elements of the protein accompanied by the partial hydrophobic collapse is expected at lower pH due to the neutralization of the negatively charged residues. It is possible that such conformational changes may be associated with the protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- V N Uversky
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142292 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia.
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Affiliation(s)
- I L Levey
- Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234
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Abstract
More than a decade ago myasthenic symptoms were observed in rabbits immunized with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) [119] and AChR deficiency was found at the neuromuscular junction in human myasthenia gravis (MG) [36]. By 1977 the autoimmune character of MG and the pathogenic role of AChR antibodies had been established by several measures. These included the demonstration of circulating AChR antibodies in nearly 90% of patients with MG [87], passive transfer with IgG of several features of the disease from human to mouse [149], localization of immune complexes (IgG and complement) on the postsynaptic membrane [30], and the beneficial effects of plasmapheresis [20, 123]. Substantial subsequent progress has occurred in understanding the structure and function of AChR and its interaction with AChR antibodies. The relationships of the concentration, specificities, and functional properties of the antibodies to the clinical state in MG have been carefully analyzed, and the mechanisms by which AChR antibodies impair neuromuscular transmission have been further investigated. The clinical classification of MG has been refined, the role of the thymus gland in the disease has been further clarified, and new information has become available on transient neonatal MG. The prognosis for generalized MG is improving, but there is still no consensus on its optimal management. Novel therapeutic approaches to MG are now being explored in animal models. Recognition of the autoimmune origin of acquired MG also implied that myasthenic disorders occurring in a genetic or congenital setting had a different cause. As a result, a number of congenital myasthenic syndromes have come to be recognized and investigated. Finally, an acquired disorder of neuromuscular transmission different from MG, the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, has also been shown to have an autoimmune basis. In this syndrome, active zone particles of the presynaptic membrane are direct or indirect targets of the pathogenic autoantibodies.
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