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Ali RA, Awadalla EA, Amin YA, Fouad SS, Ahmed MAEB, Hassan MH, Abdel-Kahaar E, Abdel-Aziz RH. The deleterious effects of sofosbuvir and ribavirin (antiviral drugs against hepatitis C virus) on different body systems in male albino rats regarding reproductive, hematological, biochemical, hepatic, and renal profiles and histopathological changes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5682. [PMID: 38453980 PMCID: PMC10920821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55950-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sofosbuvir is one of the crucial drugs used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults and children with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis. It may be used alone or with other drugs. Ribavirin is an antiviral medication used to treat HCV infection. It is not effective when used alone and must be used in combination with other medications, such as sofosbuvir. This study pertains to a comprehensive assessment of the deleterious effects of sofosbuvir (an antiviral drug against chronic HCV) or sofosbuvir combined with ribavirin (an antiviral drug against RNA and DNA viruses) on several biological activities of the body, including hematological, hormonal, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical examinations during a long-standing period on male healthy rats. In addition, fertility assessments were performed, including sperm collections and semen parameter investigations. This study was conducted on 21 male rats divided into three equal groups. Group I (control group) received distilled water; group II (sofosbuvir group) received sofosbuvir (4 mg/kg); and group III (sofosbuvir + ribavirin) received sofosbuvir (4 mg/kg) plus ribavirin (30 ml/kg). All groups received the specific drug for six months. Blood and tissue samples were collected for hematological, hormonal, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical examinations. In addition, sperm collection and assessments of semen parameters were performed. Results revealed that sofosbuvir causes a highly significant decrease in the mean of most hematological, immunological, hormonal, and biochemical parameters, except for a few numbers of parameters such as neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, cortisol, GOT, and lipase, which exhibit a significant increase. The same occurred in the sofosbuvir + ribavirin group, but at much higher levels, as most hematological, immunological, hormonal, and biochemical parameters exhibit a highly significant decrease except for monocytes, triglyceride, and lipase, which exhibit a significant increase. When compared to the sofosbuvir group alone, the sofosbuvir + ribavirin group demonstrated a highly significant decline in the mean of most hematological, immunological, hormonal, and biochemical parameters except lymphocytes and triglycerides, which exhibit a substantial increase. For the reproductive parameters, both groups exhibit a significant decrease in the total sperm motility percentage. Finally, it can be concluded that sofosbuvir causes acute pancreatitis and combined immunodeficiency. Ribavirin is associated with hormonal deficiency, which indicates the occurrence of hypopituitarism. Moreover, sofosbuvir and ribavirin synergistically affect myelosuppression and cause iron-deficiency anemia. However, sofosbuvir, or its combination with ribavirin, is associated with a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Besides, adding ribavirin to be combined with sofosbuvir improved the immunodeficiency caused by sofosbuvir; this confirms that using ribavirin with sofosbuvir reduces the side effects of both alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana A Ali
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | | | - Yahia A Amin
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
| | - Samer S Fouad
- Qena University Hospital, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | | | - Mohammed H Hassan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Emaad Abdel-Kahaar
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rehab H Abdel-Aziz
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
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Abe H, Ushijima Y, Bikangui R, Ondo GN, Pemba CM, Zadeh VR, Mpingabo PI, Ueda H, Agnandji ST, Lell B, Yasuda J. Genetic Diversity of Hepatitis B and C Viruses Revealed by Continuous Surveillance from 2015 to 2021 in Gabon, Central Africa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2046. [PMID: 37630606 PMCID: PMC10458803 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral hepatitis remains one of the largest public health concerns worldwide. Especially in Central Africa, information on hepatitis virus infections has been limited, although the prevalence in this region has been reported to be higher than the global average. To reveal the current status of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections and the genetic diversity of the viruses, we conducted longitudinal surveillance in Gabon. We detected 22 HBV and 9 HCV infections in 2047 patients with febrile illness. Genetic analyses of HBV identified subgenotype A1 for the first time in Gabon and an insertion generating a frameshift to create an X-preC/C fusion protein. We also revealed that most of the detected HCVs belonged to the "Gabon-specific" HCV subtype 4e (HCV-4e), and the entire nucleotide sequence of the HCV-4e polyprotein was determined to establish the first reference sequence. The HCV-4e strains possessed resistance-associated substitutions similar to those of other HCV-4 strains, indicating that the use of direct-acting antiviral therapy may be complex. These results provide a better understanding of the current situation of hepatitis B and C virus infections in Central Africa and will help public health organizations develop effective countermeasures to eliminate chronic viral hepatitis in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Abe
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; (H.A.); (C.M.P.); (V.R.Z.); (P.I.M.); (H.U.)
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- Vietnam Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yuri Ushijima
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- Division of Biomedical Science, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Rodrigue Bikangui
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP. 242, Gabon; (R.B.); (G.N.O.); (S.T.A.); (B.L.)
| | - Georgelin Nguema Ondo
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP. 242, Gabon; (R.B.); (G.N.O.); (S.T.A.); (B.L.)
| | - Christelle M. Pemba
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; (H.A.); (C.M.P.); (V.R.Z.); (P.I.M.); (H.U.)
| | - Vahid R. Zadeh
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; (H.A.); (C.M.P.); (V.R.Z.); (P.I.M.); (H.U.)
| | - Patrick I. Mpingabo
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; (H.A.); (C.M.P.); (V.R.Z.); (P.I.M.); (H.U.)
| | - Hayato Ueda
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; (H.A.); (C.M.P.); (V.R.Z.); (P.I.M.); (H.U.)
| | - Selidji T. Agnandji
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP. 242, Gabon; (R.B.); (G.N.O.); (S.T.A.); (B.L.)
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bertrand Lell
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP. 242, Gabon; (R.B.); (G.N.O.); (S.T.A.); (B.L.)
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jiro Yasuda
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan; (H.A.); (C.M.P.); (V.R.Z.); (P.I.M.); (H.U.)
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan;
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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Ren J, Vaid TM, Lee H, Ojeda I, Johnson ME. Evaluation of interactions between the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A and sulfonamidobenzamide based molecules using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:53-65. [PMID: 36427108 PMCID: PMC9839505 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-022-00490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS3/4A is an attractive target for the treatment of Hepatitis C infection. Herein, we present an investigation of HCV NS3/4A inhibitors based on a sulfonamidobenzamide scaffold. Inhibitor interactions with HCV NS3/4A were explored by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM/PBSA binding free energy calculations. All of the inhibitors adopt similar molecular docking poses in the catalytic site of the protease that are stabilized by hydrogen bond interactions with G137 and the catalytic S139, which are known to be important for potency and binding stability. The quantitative assessments of binding free energies from MM/PBSA correlate well with the experimental results, with a high coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.92. Binding free energy decomposition analyses elucidate the different contributions of Q41, F43, H57, R109, K136, G137, S138, S139, A156, M485, and Q526 in binding different inhibitors. The importance of these sidechain contributions was further confirmed by computational alanine scanning mutagenesis. In addition, the sidechains of K136 and S139 show crucial but distinct contributions to inhibitor binding with HCV NS3/4A. The structural basis of the potency has been elucidated, demonstrating the importance of the R155 sidechain conformation. This extensive exploration of binding energies and interactions between these compounds and HCV NS3/4A at the atomic level should benefit future antiviral drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhong Ren
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- BeiGene (Beijing) Co., Ltd, No. 30 Science Park Road, Zhong-Guan-Cun Life Sciences Park, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Tasneem M Vaid
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- Biophysics Core at Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1100 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Isabel Ojeda
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Michael E Johnson
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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Inhibition of Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases by Nucleoside Inhibitors: An Illustration of the Unity and Diversity of Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012649. [PMID: 36293509 PMCID: PMC9604226 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012649] [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: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) is essential for the replication and expression of RNA viral genomes. This class of viruses comprise a large number of highly pathogenic agents that infect essentially all species of plants and animals including humans. Infections often lead to epidemics and pandemics that have remained largely out of control due to the lack of specific and reliable preventive and therapeutic regimens. This unmet medical need has led to the exploration of new antiviral targets, of which RdRP is a major one, due to the fact of its obligatory need in virus growth. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of several synthetic nucleoside analogs to serve as mimics of the corresponding natural nucleosides. These mimics cause stalling/termination of RdRP, or misincorporation, preventing virus replication or promoting large-scale lethal mutations. Several such analogs have received clinical approval and are being routinely used in therapy. In parallel, the molecular structural basis of their inhibitory interactions with RdRP is being elucidated, revealing both traditional and novel mechanisms including a delayed chain termination effect. This review offers a molecular commentary on these mechanisms along with their clinical implications based on analyses of recent results, which should facilitate the rational design of structure-based antiviral drugs.
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Hosseini E, Sarraf Kazerooni E, Azarkeivan A, Sharifi Z, Shahabi M, Ghasemzadeh M. HLA-E*01:01 allele is associated with better response to anti-HCV therapy while homozygous status for HLA-E*01:03 allele increases the resistance to anti-HCV treatments in frequently transfused thalassemia patients. Hum Immunol 2022; 83:556-563. [PMID: 35570067 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HLA-E binding to NKG2A/CD94 induces inhibitory signals that modulate NK cells cytotoxicity against infected targets. HCV-derived peptides stabilize HLA-E molecule that favours its higher expression. However, HLA-E stability and expression vary in different genotypes where the presence of HLA-E*01:03 allele is associated with higher HLA-E expression on targets that enhances NK cells inhibition and increases the chance of virus to escape from innate immune system. Here, we aimed to investigate whether HLA-E polymorphism affects HCV infection status or its treatment in major thalassemia patients who are more vulnerable to hepatitis C. METHODS AND MATERIALS Study included 89 cases of major thalassemia positive for HCV-antibody; of those 17 patients were negative for HCV-PCR (spontaneously cleared) and 72 patients were HCV-PCR positive (persistent hepatitis under different anti-viral treatment). 16 major thalassemia patients without hepatitis, negative for HCV-antibody were also considered as patients control group. Genomic DNAs extracted from whole bloods were genotyped for HLA-E locus using a sequence specific primer-PCR strategy. RESULTS In thalassemia patients, HLA-E*01:03 allele increased susceptibility to HCV infection [p = 0.02; 4.74(1.418-15.85)]. In addition, HLA-E*01:03/*01:03 genotype predicted more resistance to HCV treatment compared to other genotypes [p = 0.037; 3.5(1.1-11.4)]. In other words, we found that the presence of HLA-E*01:01 allele favors better response to anti-HCV therapy [p = 0.037; 3.5(1.1-11.4)]. CONCLUSION From a mechanistic point of view, the associations between HLA-E polymorphisms and susceptibility to HCV infection or its therapeutic resistance in thalassemia patients may suggest potential roles for the innate and adaptive immune responses to this infection, which are manifested by the acts of HLA-E - NKG2A/CD94 axis in the modulation of NK cell inhibitory function as well as HLA-E associated CD8+ T cell cytolytic activity against HCV, respectively. Notably, from a clinical point of view, paying attention to these associations may not only be useful in increasing the effectiveness of current anti-HCV regimens comprising direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in more complicated patients, but may also suggest antiviral prophylaxis for patients more vulnerable to HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehteramolsadat Hosseini
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Sarraf Kazerooni
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azita Azarkeivan
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran; Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Thalassemia Clinic, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Sharifi
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Shahabi
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehran Ghasemzadeh
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
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