1
|
Akasov RA, Chepikova OE, Pallaeva TN, Gorokhovets NV, Siniavin AE, Gushchin VA, Savvateeva LV, Vinokurov IA, Khochenkov DA, Zamyatnin AA, Khaydukov EV. Evaluation of molecular mechanisms of riboflavin anti-COVID-19 action reveals anti-inflammatory efficacy rather than antiviral activity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130582. [PMID: 38340879 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is one of the most important water-soluble vitamins and a coenzyme involved in many biochemical processes. It has previously been shown that adjuvant therapy with flavin mononucleotide (a water-soluble form of riboflavin) correlates with normalization of clinically relevant immune markers in patients with COVID-19, but the mechanism of this effect remains unclear. Here, the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of riboflavin were investigated to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the riboflavin-induced effects. METHODS Riboflavin was evaluated for recombinant SARS-CoV-2 PLpro inhibition in an enzyme kinetic assay and for direct inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells, as well as for anti-inflammatory activity in polysaccharide-induced inflammation models, including endothelial cells in vitro and acute lung inflammation in vivo. RESULTS For the first time, the ability of riboflavin at high concentrations (above 50 μM) to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protease in vitro was demonstrated; however, no inhibition of viral replication in Vero E6 cells in vitro was found. At the same time, riboflavin exerted a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect in the polysaccharide-induced inflammation model, both in vitro, preventing polysaccharide-induced cell death, and in vivo, reducing inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and normalizing lung histology. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that riboflavin reveals anti-inflammatory rather than antiviral activity for SARS-CoV-2 infection. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Riboflavin could be suggested as a promising compound for the therapy of inflammatory diseases of broad origin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roman A Akasov
- Federal Scientific Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119333, Russia; Institute of Molecular Theranostics, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow 119435, Russia.
| | - Olga E Chepikova
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Tatiana N Pallaeva
- Federal Scientific Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119333, Russia; Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Neonila V Gorokhovets
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Andrei E Siniavin
- Federal State Budget Institution "National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N F Gamaleya" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia; Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- Federal State Budget Institution "National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N F Gamaleya" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia; Department of Virology, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Lyudmila V Savvateeva
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Ivan A Vinokurov
- Petrovsky National Research Center of Surgery, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Khochenkov
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow 115478, Russia; Togliatti State University, Togliatti 445020, Russia
| | - Andrey A Zamyatnin
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia; Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia; Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Khaydukov
- Federal Scientific Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119333, Russia; Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow 119435, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rust P, Ekmekcioglu C. The Role of Diet and Specific Nutrients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Have We Learned over the Last Three Years? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5400. [PMID: 37048015 PMCID: PMC10093865 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Nutrients and diets have an important impact on our immune system and infection risk and a huge number of papers have been published dealing with various aspects of nutrition in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection risk or COVID-19 severity. This narrative review aims to give an update on this association and tries to summarize some of the most important findings after three years of pandemic. The analysis of major studies and systematic reviews leads to the conclusion that a healthy plant-based diet reduces the risks for SARS-CoV-2 infection and especially COVID-19 severity. Regarding micronutrients, vitamin D is to the fore, but also zinc, vitamin C and, to some extent, selenium may play a role in COVID-19. Furthermore, omega-3-fatty acids with their anti-inflammatory effects also deserve attention. Therefore, a major aim of societal nutritional efforts in future should be to foster a high quality plant-based diet, which not only exerts beneficial effects on the immune system but also reduces the risk for non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes or obesity which are also primary risk factors for worse COVID-19 outcomes. Another aim should be to focus on a good supply of critical immune-effective nutrients, such as vitamin D and zinc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Rust
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Cem Ekmekcioglu
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|