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Puhl AC, Lane TR, Ekins S. Learning from COVID-19: How drug hunters can prepare for the next pandemic. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103723. [PMID: 37482237 PMCID: PMC10994687 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Over 3 years, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic killed nearly 7 million people and infected more than 767 million globally. During this time, our very small company was able to contribute to antiviral drug discovery efforts through global collaborations with other researchers, which enabled the identification and repurposing of multiple molecules with activity against SARS-CoV-2 including pyronaridine tetraphosphate, tilorone, quinacrine, vandetanib, lumefantrine, cetylpyridinium chloride, raloxifene, carvedilol, olmutinib, dacomitinib, crizotinib, and bosutinib. We highlight some of the key findings from this experience of using different computational and experimental strategies, and detail some of the challenges and strategies for how we might better prepare for the next pandemic so that potential antiviral treatments are available for future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Puhl
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Thomas R Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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2
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Diesendorf V, Roll V, Geiger N, Fähr S, Obernolte H, Sewald K, Bodem J. Drug-induced phospholipidosis is not correlated with the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 - inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 is cell line-specific. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1100028. [PMID: 37637460 PMCID: PMC10450944 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1100028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, Tummino et al. reported that 34 compounds, including Chloroquine and Fluoxetine, inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication by inducing phospholipidosis, although Chloroquine failed to suppress viral replication in Calu-3 cells and patients. In contrast, Fluoxetine represses viral replication in human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) and Calu-3 cells. Thus, it is unlikely that these compounds have similar mechanisms of action. Here, we analysed a subset of these compounds in the viral replication and phospholipidosis assays using the Calu-3 cells and PCLS as the patient-near system. Trimipramine and Chloroquine induced phospholipidosis but failed to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Calu-3 cells, which contradicts the reported findings and the proposed mechanism. Fluoxetine, only slightly induced phospholipidosis in Calu-3 cells but reduced viral replication by 2.7 orders of magnitude. Tilorone suppressed viral replication by 1.9 orders of magnitude in Calu-3 cells without causing phospholipidosis. Thus, induction of phospholipidosis is not correlated with the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2, and the compounds act via other mechanisms. However, we show that compounds, such as Amiodarone, Tamoxifen and Tilorone, with antiviral activity on Calu-3 cells, also inhibited viral replication in human PCLS. Our results indicate that antiviral assays against SARS-CoV-2 are cell-line specific. Data from Vero E6 can lead to non-transferable results, underlining the importance of an appropriate cell system for analysing antiviral compounds against SARS-CoV-2. We observed a correlation between the active compounds in Calu-3 cells and PCLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Diesendorf
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Valeria Roll
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nina Geiger
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sofie Fähr
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Helena Obernolte
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Member of Fraunhofer International Consortium for Anti-Infective Research (iCAIR), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Katherina Sewald
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, Member of Fraunhofer International Consortium for Anti-Infective Research (iCAIR), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jochen Bodem
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Ogorek TJ, Golden JE. Advances in the Development of Small Molecule Antivirals against Equine Encephalitic Viruses. Viruses 2023; 15:413. [PMID: 36851628 PMCID: PMC9958955 DOI: 10.3390/v15020413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan, western, and eastern equine encephalitic alphaviruses (VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV, respectively) are arboviruses that are highly pathogenic to equines and cause significant harm to infected humans. Currently, human alphavirus infection and the resulting diseases caused by them are unmitigated due to the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics for general use. These circumstances, combined with the unpredictability of outbreaks-as exemplified by a 2019 EEE surge in the United States that claimed 19 patient lives-emphasize the risks posed by these viruses, especially for aerosolized VEEV and EEEV which are potential biothreats. Herein, small molecule inhibitors of VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV are reviewed that have been identified or advanced in the last five years since a comprehensive review was last performed. We organize structures according to host- versus virus-targeted mechanisms, highlight cellular and animal data that are milestones in the development pipeline, and provide a perspective on key considerations for the progression of compounds at early and later stages of advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Ogorek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Golden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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4
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Sandenon Seteyen AL, Girard-Valenciennes E, Septembre-Malaterre A, Gasque P, Guiraud P, Sélambarom J. Anti-Alphaviral Alkaloids: Focus on Some Isoquinolines, Indoles and Quinolizidines. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27165080. [PMID: 36014321 PMCID: PMC9416297 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery and the development of safe and efficient therapeutics against arthritogenic alphaviruses (e.g., chikungunya virus) remain a continuous challenge. Alkaloids are structurally diverse and naturally occurring compounds in plants, with a wide range of biological activities including beneficial effects against prominent pathogenic viruses and inflammation. In this short review, we discuss the effects of some alkaloids of three biologically relevant structural classes (isoquinolines, indoles and quinolizidines). Based on various experimental models (viral infections and chronic diseases), we highlight the immunomodulatory effects of these alkaloids. The data established the capacity of these alkaloids to interfere in host antiviral and inflammatory responses through key components (antiviral interferon response, ROS production, inflammatory signaling pathways and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production) also involved in alphavirus infection and resulting inflammation. Thus, these data may provide a convincing perspective of research for the use of alkaloids as immunomodulators against arthritogenic alphavirus infection and induced inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Sandenon Seteyen
- Unité de Recherche Etudes Pharmaco-Immunologiques (UR-EPI), Université de La Réunion, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Emmanuelle Girard-Valenciennes
- Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biotechnologie des Produits Naturels (CHEMBIOPRO), Université de La Réunion, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Axelle Septembre-Malaterre
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de La Réunion, Laboratoire d’Immunologie Clinique et Expérimentale de la Zone Océan Indien (LICE-OI), Pôle de Biologie, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Philippe Gasque
- Unité de Recherche Etudes Pharmaco-Immunologiques (UR-EPI), Université de La Réunion, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de La Réunion, Laboratoire d’Immunologie Clinique et Expérimentale de la Zone Océan Indien (LICE-OI), Pôle de Biologie, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Pascale Guiraud
- Unité de Recherche Etudes Pharmaco-Immunologiques (UR-EPI), Université de La Réunion, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Jimmy Sélambarom
- Unité de Recherche Etudes Pharmaco-Immunologiques (UR-EPI), Université de La Réunion, 97400 Saint-Denis, France
- Correspondence:
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5
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Tilorone and Cridanimod Protect Mice and Show Antiviral Activity in Rats despite Absence of the Interferon-Inducing Effect in Rats. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15050617. [PMID: 35631443 PMCID: PMC9143969 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthetic compounds, Tilorone and Cridanimod, have the antiviral activity which initially had been ascribed to the capacity to induce interferon. Both drugs induce interferon in mice but not in humans. This study investigates whether these compounds have the antiviral activity in mice and rats since rats more closely resemble the human response. Viral-infection models were created in CD-1 mice and Wistar rats. Three strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus were tested for the performance in these models. One virus strain is the molecularly cloned attenuated vaccine. The second strain has major virulence determinants converted to the wild-type state which are present in virulent strains. The third virus has wild-type virulence determinants, and in addition, is engineered to express green fluorescent protein. Experimentally infected animals received Tilorone or Cridanimod, and their treatment was equivalent to the pharmacopoeia-recomended human treatment regimen. Tilorone and Cridanimod show the antiviral activity in mice and rats and protect the mice from death. In rats, both drugs diminish the viremia. These drugs do not induce interferon-alpha or interferon-beta in rats. The presented observations allow postulating the existence of an interferon-independent and species-independent mechanism of action.
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6
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Aghamirza Moghim Aliabadi H, Eivazzadeh‐Keihan R, Beig Parikhani A, Fattahi Mehraban S, Maleki A, Fereshteh S, Bazaz M, Zolriasatein A, Bozorgnia B, Rahmati S, Saberi F, Yousefi Najafabadi Z, Damough S, Mohseni S, Salehzadeh H, Khakyzadeh V, Madanchi H, Kardar GA, Zarrintaj P, Saeb MR, Mozafari M. COVID-19: A systematic review and update on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e115. [PMID: 35281790 PMCID: PMC8906461 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the rapid onset of the COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the world in 2019, extensive studies have been conducted to unveil the behavior and emission pattern of the virus in order to determine the best ways to diagnosis of virus and thereof formulate effective drugs or vaccines to combat the disease. The emergence of novel diagnostic and therapeutic techniques considering the multiplicity of reports from one side and contradictions in assessments from the other side necessitates instantaneous updates on the progress of clinical investigations. There is also growing public anxiety from time to time mutation of COVID-19, as reflected in considerable mortality and transmission, respectively, from delta and Omicron variants. We comprehensively review and summarize different aspects of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19. First, biological characteristics of COVID-19 were explained from diagnosis standpoint. Thereafter, the preclinical animal models of COVID-19 were discussed to frame the symptoms and clinical effects of COVID-19 from patient to patient with treatment strategies and in-silico/computational biology. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of nanoscience/nanotechnology in identification, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 were discussed. This review covers almost all SARS-CoV-2-related topics extensively to deepen the understanding of the latest achievements (last updated on January 11, 2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooman Aghamirza Moghim Aliabadi
- Protein Chemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Medical BiotechnologyBiotechnology Research CenterPasteur Institute of IranTehranIran
- Advance Chemical Studies LaboratoryFaculty of ChemistryK. N. Toosi UniversityTehranIran
| | | | - Arezoo Beig Parikhani
- Department of Medical BiotechnologyBiotechnology Research CenterPasteur InstituteTehranIran
| | | | - Ali Maleki
- Department of ChemistryIran University of Science and TechnologyTehranIran
| | | | - Masoume Bazaz
- Department of Medical BiotechnologyBiotechnology Research CenterPasteur InstituteTehranIran
| | | | | | - Saman Rahmati
- Department of Medical BiotechnologyBiotechnology Research CenterPasteur InstituteTehranIran
| | - Fatemeh Saberi
- Department of Medical BiotechnologySchool of Advanced Technologies in MedicineShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Zeinab Yousefi Najafabadi
- Department of Medical BiotechnologySchool of Advanced Technologies in MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- ImmunologyAsthma & Allergy Research InstituteTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Shadi Damough
- Department of Medical BiotechnologyBiotechnology Research CenterPasteur InstituteTehranIran
| | - Sara Mohseni
- Non‐metallic Materials Research GroupNiroo Research InstituteTehranIran
| | | | - Vahid Khakyzadeh
- Department of ChemistryK. N. Toosi University of TechnologyTehranIran
| | - Hamid Madanchi
- School of MedicineSemnan University of Medical SciencesSemnanIran
- Drug Design and Bioinformatics UnitDepartment of Medical BiotechnologyBiotechnology Research CenterPasteur Institute of IranTehranIran
| | - Gholam Ali Kardar
- Department of Medical BiotechnologySchool of Advanced Technologies in MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- ImmunologyAsthma & Allergy Research InstituteTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Payam Zarrintaj
- School of Chemical EngineeringOklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOklahomaUSA
| | - Mohammad Reza Saeb
- Department of Polymer TechnologyFaculty of ChemistryGdańsk University of TechnologyGdańskPoland
| | - Masoud Mozafari
- Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative MedicineIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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7
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Johnson KN, Kalveram B, Smith JK, Zhang L, Juelich T, Atkins C, Ikegami T, Freiberg AN. Tilorone-Dihydrochloride Protects against Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection and Disease in the Mouse Model. Microorganisms 2021; 10:microorganisms10010092. [PMID: 35056541 PMCID: PMC8781158 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease endemic to Africa and the Middle East that can affect humans and ruminant livestock. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the treatment of severe RVF disease in humans. Tilorone-dihydrochloride (Tilorone) is a broad-spectrum antiviral candidate that has previously shown efficacy against a wide range of DNA and RNA viruses, and which is clinically utilized for the treatment of respiratory infections in Russia and other Eastern European countries. Here, we evaluated the antiviral activity of Tilorone against Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). In vitro, Tilorone inhibited both vaccine (MP-12) and virulent (ZH501) strains of RVFV at low micromolar concentrations. In the mouse model, treatment with Tilorone significantly improved survival outcomes in BALB/c mice challenged with a lethal dose of RVFV ZH501. Treatment with 30 mg/kg/day resulted in 80% survival when administered immediately after infection. In post-exposure prophylaxis, Tilorone resulted in 30% survival at one day after infection when administered at 45 mg/kg/day. These findings demonstrate that Tilorone has potent antiviral efficacy against RVFV infection in vitro and in vivo and supports further development of Tilorone as a potential antiviral therapeutic for treatment of RVFV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA;
| | - Birte Kalveram
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
| | - Jennifer K. Smith
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
| | - Lihong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
| | - Terry Juelich
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
| | - Colm Atkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
| | - Tetsuro Ikegami
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Alexander N. Freiberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; (B.K.); (J.K.S.); (L.Z.); (T.J.); (C.A.); (T.I.)
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Correspondence:
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8
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Kalyuzhin OV, Isaeva EI, Vetrova EN, Chernysheva AI, Ponezheva LO, Karaulov AV. Effect of Tilorone on the Dynamics of Viral Load and the Levels of Interferons and Interleukin-1β in the Lung Tissue and Blood Serum of Mice with Experimental Influenza. Bull Exp Biol Med 2021; 171:736-740. [PMID: 34705177 PMCID: PMC8548354 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-021-05306-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
We studied the effect of tilorone on the dynamics of IFNα, IFNγ, and IL-1β levels in the lung tissue and blood serum in relation to viral load in the lungs of BALB/c mice with pneumonia caused by influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2). Tilorone was administered per os in doses of 40, 150, and 540 μg per mouse 6, 30, and 78 h postinfection, which simulated the drug regimen used in the clinic for the treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in Russia and post-Soviet countries. Tilorone reduced viral load with the maximum amplitude (2-3 lg) after 1-2 administrations. The results of studying the dynamics of the cytokine levels in the infected animals in general support the previous hypothesis that, in repeated dosing, tilorone enhances the IFN response (compensates for its deficiency) at the early stages of acute respiratory viral infections and suppresses (damps) excessive production of IFN and proinflammatory cytokines at the later stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- O V Kalyuzhin
- I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia.
| | - E I Isaeva
- N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of the Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - E N Vetrova
- N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of the Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - A I Chernysheva
- N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of the Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - L O Ponezheva
- I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Karaulov
- I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
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9
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Lane TR, Ekins S. Defending Antiviral Cationic Amphiphilic Drugs That May Cause Drug-Induced Phospholipidosis. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4125-4130. [PMID: 34516123 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A recent publication in Science has proposed that cationic amphiphilic drugs repurposed for COVID-19 typically use phosholipidosis as their antiviral mechanism of action in cells but will have no in vivo efficacy. On the contrary, our viewpoint, supported by additional experimental data for similar cationic amphiphilic drugs, indicates that many of these molecules have both in vitro and in vivo efficacy with no reported phospholipidosis, and therefore, this class of compounds should not be avoided but further explored, as we continue the search for broad spectrum antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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10
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Miller SR, McGrath ME, Zorn KM, Ekins S, Wright SH, Cherrington NJ. Remdesivir and EIDD-1931 Interact with Human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters 1 and 2: Implications for Reaching SARS-CoV-2 Viral Sanctuary Sites. Mol Pharmacol 2021; 100:548-557. [PMID: 34503974 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.121.000333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs) are present at the blood-testis barrier (BTB), where they can facilitate antiviral drug disposition to eliminate a sanctuary site for viruses detectable in semen. The purpose of this study was to investigate ENT-drug interactions with three nucleoside analogs, remdesivir, molnupiravir, and molnupiravir's active metabolite, β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (EIDD-1931), and four non-nucleoside molecules repurposed as antivirals for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study used three-dimensional pharmacophores for ENT1 and ENT2 substrates and inhibitors and Bayesian machine learning models to identify potential interactions with these transporters. In vitro transport experiments demonstrated that remdesivir was the most potent inhibitor of ENT-mediated [3H]uridine uptake (ENT1 IC50: 39 μM; ENT2 IC50: 77 μM), followed by EIDD-1931 (ENT1 IC50: 259 μM; ENT2 IC50: 467 μM), whereas molnupiravir was a modest inhibitor (ENT1 IC50: 701 μM; ENT2 IC50: 851 μM). Other proposed antivirals failed to inhibit ENT-mediated [3H]uridine uptake below 1 mM. Remdesivir accumulation decreased in the presence of 6-S-[(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]-6-thioinosine (NBMPR) by 30% in ENT1 cells (P = 0.0248) and 27% in ENT2 cells (P = 0.0054). EIDD-1931 accumulation decreased in the presence of NBMPR by 77% in ENT1 cells (P = 0.0463) and by 64% in ENT2 cells (P = 0.0132), which supported computational predictions that both are ENT substrates that may be important for efficacy against COVID-19. NBMPR failed to decrease molnupiravir uptake, suggesting that ENT interaction is likely inhibitory. Our combined computational and in vitro data can be used to identify additional ENT-drug interactions to improve our understanding of drugs that can circumvent the BTB. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study identified remdesivir and EIDD-1931 as substrates of equilibrative nucleoside transporters 1 and 2. This provides a potential mechanism for uptake of these drugs into cells and may be important for antiviral potential in the testes and other tissues expressing these transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siennah R Miller
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (S.R.M., M.E.M., N.J.C.) and Department of Physiology (S.H.W.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina (K.M.Z., S.E.)
| | - Meghan E McGrath
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (S.R.M., M.E.M., N.J.C.) and Department of Physiology (S.H.W.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina (K.M.Z., S.E.)
| | - Kimberley M Zorn
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (S.R.M., M.E.M., N.J.C.) and Department of Physiology (S.H.W.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina (K.M.Z., S.E.)
| | - Sean Ekins
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (S.R.M., M.E.M., N.J.C.) and Department of Physiology (S.H.W.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina (K.M.Z., S.E.)
| | - Stephen H Wright
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (S.R.M., M.E.M., N.J.C.) and Department of Physiology (S.H.W.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina (K.M.Z., S.E.)
| | - Nathan J Cherrington
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (S.R.M., M.E.M., N.J.C.) and Department of Physiology (S.H.W.), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina (K.M.Z., S.E.)
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11
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Martinez Guerrero LJ, Zhang X, Zorn KM, Ekins S, Wright SH. Cationic Compounds with SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Activity and their Interaction with OCT/MATE Secretory Transporters.. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 379:96-107. [PMID: 34253645 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, drug repurposing has been highlighted for rapid introduction of therapeutics. Proposed drugs with activity against SARS-CoV-2 include compounds with positive charges at physiological pH, making them potential targets for the organic cation (OC) secretory transporters of kidney and liver, i.e., the basolateral Organic Cation Transporters, OCT1 and OCT2; and the apical Multidrug And Toxin Extruders, MATE1 and MATE2-K. We selected several compounds proposed to have in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 (chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, quinacrine, tilorone, pyronaridine, cetylpyridinium and miramistin), to test their interaction with OCT and MATE transporters. We used Bayesian Machine learning models to generate predictions for each molecule with each transporter and also experimentally determined IC50 values for each compound against labelled substrate transport into CHO cells that stably expressed OCT2, MATE1 or MATE2-K using three structurally distinct substrates (atenolol, metformin and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP)) to assess the impact of substrate structure on inhibitory efficacy. For the OCTs substrate identity influenced IC50 values, though the effect was larger and more systematic for OCT2. In contrast, inhibition of MATE1-mediated transport was largely insensitive to substrate identity. Unlike MATE1, inhibition of MATE2-K was influenced, albeit modestly, by substrate identity. Cu,max/IC50 ratios were used to identify potential clinical DDI recommendations; all the compounds interacted with the OCT/MATE secretory pathway, most with sufficient avidity to represent potential DDI issues for secretion of cationic drugs. This should be considered when proposing cationic agents as repurposed antivirals. Significance Statement Drugs proposed as potential COVID-19 therapeutics based on in vitro activity data against SARS-CoV-2 include compounds with positive charges at physiological pH, making them potential interactors with the OCT/MATE renal secretory pathway. We tested seven such molecules as inhibitors of OCT1/2 and MATE1/2-K. All the compounds blocked transport activity regardless of substrate used to monitor activity. Suggesting that plasma concentrations achieved by normal clinical application of the test agents could be expected to influence the pharmacokinetics of selected cationic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., United States
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12
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Battisti V, Urban E, Langer T. Antivirals against the Chikungunya Virus. Viruses 2021; 13:1307. [PMID: 34372513 PMCID: PMC8310245 DOI: 10.3390/v13071307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that has re-emerged in recent decades, causing large-scale epidemics in many parts of the world. CHIKV infection leads to a febrile disease known as chikungunya fever (CHIKF), which is characterised by severe joint pain and myalgia. As many patients develop a painful chronic stage and neither antiviral drugs nor vaccines are available, the development of a potent CHIKV inhibiting drug is crucial for CHIKF treatment. A comprehensive summary of current antiviral research and development of small-molecule inhibitor against CHIKV is presented in this review. We highlight different approaches used for the identification of such compounds and further discuss the identification and application of promising viral and host targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thierry Langer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; (V.B.); (E.U.)
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13
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Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Viral Infection and Treatment: A Special Focus on SARS-CoV-2. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126574. [PMID: 34207476 PMCID: PMC8235362 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) encompass a group of glycoproteins composed of unbranched negatively charged heparan sulfate (HS) chains covalently attached to a core protein. The complex HSPG biosynthetic machinery generates an extraordinary structural variety of HS chains that enable them to bind a plethora of ligands, including growth factors, morphogens, cytokines, chemokines, enzymes, matrix proteins, and bacterial and viral pathogens. These interactions translate into key regulatory activity of HSPGs on a wide range of cellular processes such as receptor activation and signaling, cytoskeleton assembly, extracellular matrix remodeling, endocytosis, cell-cell crosstalk, and others. Due to their ubiquitous expression within tissues and their large functional repertoire, HSPGs are involved in many physiopathological processes; thus, they have emerged as valuable targets for the therapy of many human diseases. Among their functions, HSPGs assist many viruses in invading host cells at various steps of their life cycle. Viruses utilize HSPGs for the attachment to the host cell, internalization, intracellular trafficking, egress, and spread. Recently, HSPG involvement in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been established. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying HSPG/SARS-CoV-2 interaction and downstream effects, and we provide an overview of the HSPG-based therapeutic strategies that could be used to combat such a fearsome virus.
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14
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Nile SH, Nile A, Jalde S, Kai G. Recent advances in potential drug therapies combating COVID-19 and related coronaviruses-A perspective. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 154:112333. [PMID: 34118347 PMCID: PMC8189744 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses responsible for the severe pathophysiological effects on human health. The most severe outbreak includes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The COVID-19 poses major challenges to clinical management because no specific FDA-approved therapy yet to be available. Thus, the existing therapies are being used for the treatment of COVID-19, which are under clinical trials and compassionate use, based on in vitro and in silico studies. In this review, we summarize the potential therapies utilizing small molecules, bioactive compounds, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs, peptides, antibodies, natural products, and synthetic compounds targeting the complex molecular signaling network involved in COVID-19. In this review>230 natural and chemically synthesized drug therapies are described with their recent advances in research and development being done in terms of their chemical, structural and functional properties. This review focuses on possible targets for viral cells, viral proteins, viral replication, and different molecular pathways for the discovery of novel viral- and host-based therapeutic targets against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivraj Hariram Nile
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Arti Nile
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea
| | - Shivkumar Jalde
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Jungwon University, Goesan, 28420, South Korea
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China.
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15
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Puhl AC, Fritch EJ, Lane TR, Tse LV, Yount BL, Sacramento CQ, Fintelman-Rodrigues N, Tavella TA, Maranhão Costa FT, Weston S, Logue J, Frieman M, Premkumar L, Pearce KH, Hurst BL, Andrade CH, Levi JA, Johnson NJ, Kisthardt SC, Scholle F, Souza TML, Moorman NJ, Baric RS, Madrid PB, Ekins S. Repurposing the Ebola and Marburg Virus Inhibitors Tilorone, Quinacrine, and Pyronaridine: In Vitro Activity against SARS-CoV-2 and Potential Mechanisms. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:7454-7468. [PMID: 33778258 PMCID: PMC7992063 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a newly identified virus that has resulted in over 2.5 million deaths globally and over 116 million cases globally in March, 2021. Small-molecule inhibitors that reverse disease severity have proven difficult to discover. One of the key approaches that has been widely applied in an effort to speed up the translation of drugs is drug repurposing. A few drugs have shown in vitro activity against Ebola viruses and demonstrated activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo. Most notably, the RNA polymerase targeting remdesivir demonstrated activity in vitro and efficacy in the early stage of the disease in humans. Testing other small-molecule drugs that are active against Ebola viruses (EBOVs) would appear a reasonable strategy to evaluate their potential for SARS-CoV-2. We have previously repurposed pyronaridine, tilorone, and quinacrine (from malaria, influenza, and antiprotozoal uses, respectively) as inhibitors of Ebola and Marburg viruses in vitro in HeLa cells and mouse-adapted EBOV in mice in vivo. We have now tested these three drugs in various cell lines (VeroE6, Vero76, Caco-2, Calu-3, A549-ACE2, HUH-7, and monocytes) infected with SARS-CoV-2 as well as other viruses (including MHV and HCoV 229E). The compilation of these results indicated considerable variability in antiviral activity observed across cell lines. We found that tilorone and pyronaridine inhibited the virus replication in A549-ACE2 cells with IC50 values of 180 nM and IC50 198 nM, respectively. We used microscale thermophoresis to test the binding of these molecules to the spike protein, and tilorone and pyronaridine bind to the spike receptor binding domain protein with K d values of 339 and 647 nM, respectively. Human Cmax for pyronaridine and quinacrine is greater than the IC50 observed in A549-ACE2 cells. We also provide novel insights into the mechanism of these compounds which is likely lysosomotropic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Puhl
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Ethan J. Fritch
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Thomas R. Lane
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Longping V. Tse
- Department
of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina
School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Boyd L. Yount
- Department
of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina
School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Carolina Q. Sacramento
- Laboratório
de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil
- Centro
De Desenvolvimento Tecnológico Em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de
Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Natalia Fintelman-Rodrigues
- Laboratório
de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil
- Centro
De Desenvolvimento Tecnológico Em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de
Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Tatyana Almeida Tavella
- Laboratory
of Tropical Diseases—Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacinto da Silva, Department
of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
- Laboratory
of Tropical Diseases—Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacinto da Silva, Department
of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Stuart Weston
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - James Logue
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Matthew Frieman
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Lakshmanane Premkumar
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kenneth H. Pearce
- Center
for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Brett L. Hurst
- Institute
for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, United States
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, United States
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratory
of Tropical Diseases—Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacinto da Silva, Department
of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
- LabMol—Laboratory of Molecular Modeling
and Drug Design, Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade Federal
de Goiás, Goiânia,
GO 74605-170, Brazil
| | - James A. Levi
- Department of Biological Sciences, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Nicole J. Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Samantha C. Kisthardt
- Department of Biological Sciences, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Frank Scholle
- Department of Biological Sciences, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Thiago Moreno L. Souza
- Laboratório
de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-900, Brazil
- Centro
De Desenvolvimento Tecnológico Em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de
Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Nathaniel John Moorman
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Center
for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery
Initiative, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department
of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina
School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery
Initiative, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Peter B. Madrid
- SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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16
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Horlock D, Kaye DM, Winbanks CE, Gao XM, Kiriazis H, Donner DG, Gregorevic P, McMullen JR, Bernardo BC. Old Drug, New Trick: Tilorone, a Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Drug as a Potential Anti-Fibrotic Therapeutic for the Diseased Heart. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14030263. [PMID: 33804032 PMCID: PMC7998193 DOI: 10.3390/ph14030263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is associated with most forms of cardiovascular disease. No reliable therapies targeting cardiac fibrosis are available, thus identifying novel drugs that can resolve or prevent fibrosis is needed. Tilorone, an antiviral agent, can prevent fibrosis in a mouse model of lung disease. We investigated the anti-fibrotic effects of tilorone in human cardiac fibroblasts in vitro by performing a radioisotopic assay for [3H]-proline incorporation as a proxy for collagen synthesis. Exploratory studies in human cardiac fibroblasts treated with tilorone (10 µM) showed a significant reduction in transforming growth factor-β induced collagen synthesis compared to untreated fibroblasts. To determine if this finding could be recapitulated in vivo, mice with established pathological remodelling due to four weeks of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) were administered tilorone (50 mg/kg, i.p) or saline every third day for eight weeks. Treatment with tilorone was associated with attenuation of fibrosis (assessed by Masson's trichrome stain), a favourable cardiac gene expression profile and no further deterioration of cardiac systolic function determined by echocardiography compared to saline treated TAC mice. These data demonstrate that tilorone has anti-fibrotic actions in human cardiac fibroblasts and the adult mouse heart, and represents a potential novel therapy to treat fibrosis associated with heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan Horlock
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
| | - David M. Kaye
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- Department of Cardiology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Catherine E. Winbanks
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Xiao-Ming Gao
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Disease in Central Asia, Clinical Medical Research Institute of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Helen Kiriazis
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Daniel G. Donner
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Paul Gregorevic
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Julie R. McMullen
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Bianca C. Bernardo
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; (D.H.); (D.M.K.); (C.E.W.); (X.-M.G.); (H.K.); (D.G.D.); (P.G.); (J.R.M.)
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-(0)3-8532-1167; Fax: +61-(0)3-8532-1100
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17
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Zuo Z, Wu T, Pan L, Zuo C, Hu Y, Luo X, Jiang L, Xia Z, Xiao X, Liu J, Ye M, Deng M. Modalities and Mechanisms of Treatment for Coronavirus Disease 2019. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:583914. [PMID: 33643033 PMCID: PMC7908061 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.583914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is spreading rapidly throughout the world. Although COVID-19 has a relatively low case severity rate compared to SARS and Middle East Respiratory syndrome it is a major public concern because of its rapid spread and devastating impact on the global economy. Scientists and clinicians are urgently trying to identify drugs to combat the virus with hundreds of clinical trials underway. Current treatments could be divided into two major part: anti-viral agents and host system modulatory agents. On one hand, anti-viral agents focus on virus infection process. Umifenovir blocks virus recognizing host and entry. Remdesivir inhibits virus replication. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine involve preventing the whole infection process, including virus transcription and release. On the other hand, host system modulatory agents are associated with regulating the imbalanced inflammatory reaction and biased immune system. Corticosteroid is believed to be commonly used for repressing hyper-inflammation, which is one of the major pathologic mechanisms of COVID-19. Convalescent plasma and neutralizing antibodies provide essential elements for host immune system and create passive immunization. Thrombotic events are at high incidence in COVID-19 patients, thus anti-platelet and anti-coagulation are crucial, as well. Here, we summarized these current or reproposed agents to better understand the mechanisms of agents and give an update of present research situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Zuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liangyu Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chenzhe Zuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yingchuo Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuan Luo
- Hunan Yuanpin Cell Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Changsha, China
| | - Liping Jiang
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zanxian Xia
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojuan Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mao Ye
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering for Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Meichun Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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18
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Vignaux PA, Minerali E, Lane TR, Foil DH, Madrid PB, Puhl AC, Ekins S. The Antiviral Drug Tilorone Is a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Acetylcholinesterase. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:1296-1307. [PMID: 33400519 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important drug target in neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson's disease dementia as well as for other conditions like myasthenia gravis and anticholinergic poisoning. In this study, we have used a combination of high-throughput screening, machine learning, and docking to identify new inhibitors of this enzyme. Bayesian machine learning models were generated with literature data from ChEMBL for eel and human AChE inhibitors as well as butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors (BuChE) and compared with other machine learning methods. High-throughput screens for the eel AChE inhibitor model identified several molecules including tilorone, an antiviral drug that is well-established outside of the United States, as a newly identified nanomolar AChE inhibitor. We have described how tilorone inhibits both eel and human AChE with IC50's of 14.4 nM and 64.4 nM, respectively, but does not inhibit the closely related BuChE IC50 > 50 μM. We have docked tilorone into the human AChE crystal structure and shown that this selectivity is likely due to the reliance on a specific interaction with a hydrophobic residue in the peripheral anionic site of AChE that is absent in BuChE. We also conducted a pharmacological safety profile (SafetyScreen44) and kinase selectivity screen (SelectScreen) that showed tilorone (1 μM) only inhibited AChE out of 44 toxicology target proteins evaluated and did not appreciably inhibit any of the 485 kinases tested. This study suggests there may be a potential role for repurposing tilorone or its derivatives in conditions that benefit from AChE inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Vignaux
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Eni Minerali
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Thomas R Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Daniel H Foil
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Peter B Madrid
- SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Ana C Puhl
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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19
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Chu Y, Raja Sekhara Reddy B, Pratap Reddy Gajulapalli V, Sudhakar Babu K, Kim E, Lee S. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of N-arylpiperazine derivatives as interferon inducers. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127613. [PMID: 33075488 PMCID: PMC7566768 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We designed and synthesized a series of arylpiperazine derivatives as interferon inducers. We tested different linker system and carbonyl moiety resulted in increase of potency. 5i exhibited the activity of interferon inducer with EC50 of 13.1 μM and no cytotoxicity. 5i initiated immune responses by mediating type I IFN signaling.
Type I Interferon (IFN) signaling plays an important role in the immune defense system against virus infection and in the innate immune response, thus IFNs are widely used as anti-viral agents and treatment for immune disorder or cancer. However, there is a growing demand for novel small-molecule IFN inducer due to tolerance, toxicity, or short duration of action following direct administration of IFNs. In this study, we assessed arylpiperazine (ARP) as a new core skeleton of IFN inducer. To investigate structure–activity relationship, we designed and synthesized a series of ARP analogues and evaluated the ability to stimulate IFN response in THP-1 human monocyte cells. Compound 5i was identified as a potent type I IFN inducer as it significantly increased cytokine secretion and increased expression of various IFN-stimulating genes which are representative biomarkers of type I IFN pathway. Our results suggested a beneficial therapeutic potential of 5i as an anti-viral agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeonjeong Chu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | | | | | - K Sudhakar Babu
- Department of Chemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, India.
| | - Eunha Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea.
| | - Sanghee Lee
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea; Department of HY-KIST Bio-convergence, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
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20
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Puhl AC, Fritch EJ, Lane TR, Tse LV, Yount BL, Sacramento CQ, Tavella TA, Costa FTM, Weston S, Logue J, Frieman M, Premkumar L, Pearce KH, Hurst BL, Andrade CH, Levi JA, Johnson NJ, Kisthardt SC, Scholle F, Souza TML, Moorman NJ, Baric RS, Madrid P, Ekins S. Repurposing the Ebola and Marburg Virus Inhibitors Tilorone, Quinacrine and Pyronaridine: In vitro Activity Against SARS-CoV-2 and Potential Mechanisms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.12.01.407361. [PMID: 33299990 PMCID: PMC7724658 DOI: 10.1101/2020.12.01.407361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a newly identified virus that has resulted in over 1.3 M deaths globally and over 59 M cases globally to date. Small molecule inhibitors that reverse disease severity have proven difficult to discover. One of the key approaches that has been widely applied in an effort to speed up the translation of drugs is drug repurposing. A few drugs have shown in vitro activity against Ebola virus and demonstrated activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo . Most notably the RNA polymerase targeting remdesivir demonstrated activity in vitro and efficacy in the early stage of the disease in humans. Testing other small molecule drugs that are active against Ebola virus would seem a reasonable strategy to evaluate their potential for SARS-CoV-2. We have previously repurposed pyronaridine, tilorone and quinacrine (from malaria, influenza, and antiprotozoal uses, respectively) as inhibitors of Ebola and Marburg virus in vitro in HeLa cells and of mouse adapted Ebola virus in mouse in vivo . We have now tested these three drugs in various cell lines (VeroE6, Vero76, Caco-2, Calu-3, A549-ACE2, HUH-7 and monocytes) infected with SARS-CoV-2 as well as other viruses (including MHV and HCoV 229E). The compilation of these results indicated considerable variability in antiviral activity observed across cell lines. We found that tilorone and pyronaridine inhibited the virus replication in A549-ACE2 cells with IC 50 values of 180 nM and IC 50 198 nM, respectively. We have also tested them in a pseudovirus assay and used microscale thermophoresis to test the binding of these molecules to the spike protein. They bind to spike RBD protein with K d values of 339 nM and 647 nM, respectively. Human C max for pyronaridine and quinacrine is greater than the IC 50 hence justifying in vivo evaluation. We also provide novel insights into their mechanism which is likely lysosomotropic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Puhl
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Ethan James Fritch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas R. Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Longping V. Tse
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
| | - Boyd L. Yount
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
| | - Carol Queiroz Sacramento
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Centro De Desenvolvimento Tecnológico Em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Tatyana Almeida Tavella
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacinto da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacinto da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Stuart Weston
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James Logue
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew Frieman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lakshmanane Premkumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H. Pearce
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Brett L. Hurst
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratory of Tropical Diseases - Prof. Dr. Luiz Jacinto da Silva, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
- LabMol - Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - James A. Levi
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Nicole J. Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Samantha C. Kisthardt
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Frank Scholle
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Thiago Moreno L. Souza
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Centro De Desenvolvimento Tecnológico Em Saúde (CDTS), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Nathaniel John Moorman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery Initiative, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill NC 27599, USA
- Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery Initiative, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Peter Madrid
- SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
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21
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Zhang Q, Chen CZ, Swaroop M, Xu M, Wang L, Lee J, Wang AQ, Pradhan M, Hagen N, Chen L, Shen M, Luo Z, Xu X, Xu Y, Huang W, Zheng W, Ye Y. Heparan sulfate assists SARS-CoV-2 in cell entry and can be targeted by approved drugs in vitro. Cell Discov 2020; 6:80. [PMID: 33298900 PMCID: PMC7610239 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-020-00222-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as an attractive drug repurposing target for COVID-19. Here we combine genetics and chemical perturbation to demonstrate that ACE2-mediated entry of SARS-Cov and CoV-2 requires the cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) as an assisting cofactor: ablation of genes involved in HS biosynthesis or incubating cells with a HS mimetic both inhibit Spike-mediated viral entry. We show that heparin/HS binds to Spike directly, and facilitates the attachment of Spike-bearing viral particles to the cell surface to promote viral entry. We screened approved drugs and identified two classes of inhibitors that act via distinct mechanisms to target this entry pathway. Among the drugs characterized, Mitoxantrone is a potent HS inhibitor, while Sunitinib and BNTX disrupt the actin network to indirectly abrogate HS-assisted viral entry. We further show that drugs of the two classes can be combined to generate a synergized activity against SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effect. Altogether, our study establishes HS as an attachment factor that assists SARS coronavirus cell entry and reveals drugs capable of targeting this important step in the viral life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Catherine Zhengzheng Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Manju Swaroop
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Miao Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Lihui Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Juhyung Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Amy Qiu Wang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Manisha Pradhan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Natalie Hagen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Lu Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Zhiji Luo
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Yue Xu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Wenwei Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Yihong Ye
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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22
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Makarov V, Riabova O, Ekins S, Pluzhnikov N, Chepur S. The past, present and future of RNA respiratory viruses: influenza and coronaviruses. Pathog Dis 2020; 78:ftaa046. [PMID: 32860686 PMCID: PMC7499567 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftaa046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus and coronaviruses continue to cause pandemics across the globe. We now have a greater understanding of their functions. Unfortunately, the number of drugs in our armory to defend us against them is inadequate. This may require us to think about what mechanisms to address. Here, we review the biological properties of these viruses, their genetic evolution and antiviral therapies that can be used or have been attempted. We will describe several classes of drugs such as serine protease inhibitors, heparin, heparan sulfate receptor inhibitors, chelating agents, immunomodulators and many others. We also briefly describe some of the drug repurposing efforts that have taken place in an effort to rapidly identify molecules to treat patients with COVID-19. While we put a heavy emphasis on the past and present efforts, we also provide some thoughts about what we need to do to prepare for respiratory viral threats in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Makarov
- Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 33-2 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Olga Riabova
- Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 33-2 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Nikolay Pluzhnikov
- State Research Institute of Military Medicine of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, St Petersburg 195043, Russia
| | - Sergei Chepur
- State Research Institute of Military Medicine of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, St Petersburg 195043, Russia
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23
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de M Ribeiro LN, Fonseca BB. The role of pharmaceutical nanotechnology in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Future Microbiol 2020; 15:1571-1582. [PMID: 33215525 PMCID: PMC7682556 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is no effective therapy against COVID-19 available so far. In the last months, different drugs have been tested as potential treatments for COVID-19, exhibiting high toxicity and low efficacy. Therefore, nanotechnology can be applied to improve the therapeutic action and minimize the toxicity of loaded drugs. In this review, we summarized the drugs tested as COVID-19 treatment and the advantages of antiviral nanostructured drug-delivery systems. Such systems have demonstrated low in vitro toxicity with better in vitro antiviral activity than free drugs. We believe that this approach should inspire novel nanostructured drug-delivery systems developments to find efficient COVID-19 treatments. Here, we discuss the remaining challenges for such promising nanosystems to be approved for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lígia N de M Ribeiro
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlândia, Brazil
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24
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Lane TR, Dyall J, Mercer L, Goodin C, Foil DH, Zhou H, Postnikova E, Liang JY, Holbrook MR, Madrid PB, Ekins S. Repurposing Pyramax®, quinacrine and tilorone as treatments for Ebola virus disease. Antiviral Res 2020; 182:104908. [PMID: 32798602 PMCID: PMC7425680 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We have recently identified three molecules (tilorone, quinacrine and pyronaridine tetraphosphate) which all demonstrated efficacy in the mouse model of infection with mouse-adapted Ebola virus (EBOV) model of disease and had similar in vitro inhibition of an Ebola pseudovirus (VSV-EBOV-GP), suggesting they interfere with viral entry. Using a machine learning model to predict lysosomotropism these compounds were evaluated for their ability to possess a lysosomotropic mechanism in vitro. We now demonstrate in vitro that pyronaridine tetraphosphate is an inhibitor of Lysotracker accumulation in lysosomes (IC50 = 0.56 μM). Further, we evaluated antiviral synergy between pyronaridine and artesunate (Pyramax®), which are used in combination to treat malaria. Artesunate was not found to have lysosomotropic activity in vitro and the combination effect on EBOV inhibition was shown to be additive. Pyramax® may represent a unique example of the repurposing of a combination product for another disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Julie Dyall
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Luke Mercer
- Cambrex, 3501 Tricenter Blvd, Suite C, Durham, NC, 27713, USA
| | - Caleb Goodin
- Cambrex, 3501 Tricenter Blvd, Suite C, Durham, NC, 27713, USA
| | - Daniel H Foil
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Huanying Zhou
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | | | - Janie Y Liang
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Michael R Holbrook
- Integrated Research Facility, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Peter B Madrid
- SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA.
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25
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Zhang Q, Chen CZ, Swaroop M, Xu M, Wang L, Lee J, Wang AQ, Pradhan M, Hagen N, Chen L, Shen M, Luo Z, Xu X, Xu Y, Huang W, Zheng W, Ye Y. Heparan sulfate assists SARS-CoV-2 in cell entry and can be targeted by approved drugs in vitro. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.07.14.202549. [PMID: 32699847 PMCID: PMC7373127 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.14.202549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as an attractive drug repurposing target for COVID-19. Here we combine genetics and chemical perturbation to demonstrate that ACE2-mediated entry of SARS-CoV and CoV-2 requires the cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) as an assisting cofactor: ablation of genes involved in HS biosynthesis or incubating cells with a HS mimetic both inhibit Spike-mediated viral entry. We show that heparin/HS binds to Spike directly, facilitates the attachment of viral particles to the cell surface to promote cell entry. We screened approved drugs and identified two classes of inhibitors that act via distinct mechanisms to target this entry pathway. Among the drugs characterized, Mitoxantrone is a potent HS inhibitor, while Sunitinib and BNTX disrupt the actin network to indirectly abrogate HS-assisted viral entry. We further show that drugs of the two classes can be combined to generate a synergized activity against SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effect. Altogether, our study establishes HS as an attachment factor that assists SARS coronavirus cell entry, and reveals drugs capable of targeting this important step in the viral life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Catherine Z. Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Manju Swaroop
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Miao Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Lihui Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Juhyung Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Amy Q. Wang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Manisha Pradhan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Natalie Hagen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Lu Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Zhiji Luo
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Xin Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Yue Xu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Wenwei Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Yihong Ye
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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26
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Antiviral Strategies against Arthritogenic Alphaviruses. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091365. [PMID: 32906603 PMCID: PMC7563460 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alphaviruses are members of the Togaviridae family that are mainly transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes. In the last decades, several alphaviruses have re-emerged, causing outbreaks worldwide. One example is the re-emergence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2004, which caused massive epidemics in the Indian Ocean region after which the virus dramatically spread to the Americas in late 2013. Besides CHIKV, other alphaviruses, such as the Ross River virus (RRV), Mayaro virus (MAYV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), have emerged and have become a serious public health concern in recent years. Infections with the Old World alphaviruses (e.g., CHIKV, RRV) are primarily associated with polyarthritis and myalgia that can persist for months to years. On the other hand, New World alphaviruses such as VEEV cause mainly neurological disease. Despite the worldwide (re-)emergence of these viruses, there are no antivirals or vaccines available for the treatment or prevention of infections with alphaviruses. It is therefore of utmost importance to develop antiviral strategies against these viruses. We here provided an overview of the reported antiviral strategies against arthritogenic alphaviruses. In addition, we highlighted the future perspectives for the development and the proper use of such antivirals.
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27
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Debnath SK, Srivastava R, Omri A. Emerging therapeutics for the management of COVID 19. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2020; 25:337-351. [PMID: 32799566 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2020.1810663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) disease pandemic can be characterized as the most critical and changeable hazard to healthcare systems in eras. The high fatality rate associated with coronavirus infection underlines the urgent need for an effective treatment to reduce disease severity and mortality. AREAS COVERED A detailed search for treatments related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) was carried out using PubMed. Components of the virus relevant to the infectious mechanism were identified. We have highlighted all the latest emerging and repurposed drugs that were found to be active against this novel coronavirus and classified these drugs according to their category. Different drug targets are discussed in order to identify new molecules or new combinations as candidates to manage SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 infections. EXPERT OPINION The development of novel molecules and vaccines has been a challenge during this urgent crisis. Nucleoside analogs and IL-6 receptor antagonists have been identified as the best candidates for treatment of this disease. Multi-drug therapy by targeting different pathways will need to be corroborated and then confirmed through clinical trials. Until a vaccine is available, an alternative drug regimen needs to be adopted by clinicians in the management of coronavirus symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujit Kumar Debnath
- Nanobios Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay , Mumbai, India
| | - Rohit Srivastava
- Nanobios Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay , Mumbai, India
| | - Abdelwahab Omri
- The Novel Drug and Vaccine Delivery Systems Facility, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University , Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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28
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Lane TR, Ekins S. Toward the Target: Tilorone, Quinacrine, and Pyronaridine Bind to Ebola Virus Glycoprotein. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:1653-1658. [PMID: 32832035 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyronaridine, tilorone, and quinacrine were recently identified by a machine learning model and demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against Ebola virus (EBOV) and represent viable candidates for drug repurposing. The target for these molecules was previously unknown. These drugs have now been docked into the crystal structure of the ebola glycoprotein and then experimentally validated in vitro using microscale thermophoresis to generate K d values for tilorone (0.73 μM), pyronaridine (7.34 μM), and quinacrine (7.55 μM). These molecules were shown to bind with a higher affinity than the previously reported toremifene (16 μM). These three structures provide more insight into the structural diversity of ebola glycoprotein inhibitors which can be utilized in the discovery and design of additional inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R. Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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