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Akter D, Biswas J, Miller MJ, Thiele DJ, Murphy EA, O'Connor CM, Moffat JF, Chan GC. Targeting the host transcription factor HSF1 prevents human cytomegalovirus replication in vitro and in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.23.614483. [PMID: 39386472 PMCID: PMC11463536 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.23.614483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
FDA-approved antivirals against HCMV have several limitations, including only targeting the later stages of the viral replication cycle, adverse side effects, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Antivirals targeting host factors specifically activated within infected cells and necessary for viral replication could address the current drawbacks of anti-HCMV standard-of-care drugs. In this study, we found HCMV infection stimulated the activation of the stress response transcription factor heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). HCMV entry into fibroblasts rapidly increased HSF1 activity and subsequent relocalization from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which was maintained throughout viral replication and in contrast to the transient burst of activity induced by canonical heat shock. Prophylactic pharmacological inhibition or genetic depletion of HSF1 prior to HCMV infection attenuated the expression of all classes of viral genes, including immediate early (IE) genes, and virus production, suggesting HSF1 promotes the earliest stages of the viral replication cycle. Therapeutic treatment with SISU-102, an HSF1 inhibitor tool compound, after IE expression also reduced the levels of L proteins and progeny production, suggesting HSF1 regulates multiple steps along the HCMV replication cycle. Leveraging a newly developed human skin xenograft transplant murine model, we found prophylactic treatment with SISU-102 significantly attenuated viral replication in transplanted human skin xenografts as well as viral dissemination to distal sites. These data demonstrate HCMV infection rapidly activates and relocalizes HSF1 to the nucleus to promote viral replication, which can be exploited as a host-directed antiviral strategy. One Sentence Summary Inhibiting of HSF1 as a host-directed antiviral therapy attenuates HCMV replication in vitro and in vivo.
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Obergfäll D, Wild M, Sommerer M, Barillas Dahm M, Kicuntod J, Tillmanns J, Kögler M, Lösing J, Dhotre K, Müller R, Wangen C, Wagner S, Phan QV, Wiebusch L, Briestenská K, Mistríková J, Kerr-Jones L, Stanton RJ, Voigt S, Hahn F, Marschall M. Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 Represents a Positive Regulator of Cytomegalovirus Replication and a Novel Host Target for Antiviral Strategies. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:1238. [PMID: 39339274 PMCID: PMC11435438 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16091238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2024] [Revised: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background. Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) is a multifaceted regulator and represents a catalytic component of the transcriptional Mediator complex. CDK8 activity, on the one hand, increases transcriptional elongation by the recruitment of Mediator/super elongation complexes, but, on the other hand, negatively regulates CDK7-controlled transcriptional initiation through inactivating cyclin H phosphorylation. Recently, these combined properties of CDK8 have also suggested its rate-limiting importance for herpesviral replication. Objectives. In this paper, we focused on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and addressed the question of whether the pharmacological inhibition or knock-down of CDK8 may affect viral replication efficiency in cell culture models. Methods. A number of human and animal herpesviruses, as well as non-herpesviruses, were used to analyze the importance of CDK8 for viral replication in cell culture models, and to assess the antiviral efficacy of CDK8 inhibitors. Results. Using clinically relevant CDK8 inhibitors (CCT-251921, MSC-2530818, and BI-1347), HCMV replication was found strongly reduced even at nanomolar drug concentrations. The EC50 values were consistent for three different HCMV strains (i.e., AD169, TB40, and Merlin) analyzed in two human cell types (i.e., primary fibroblasts and astrocytoma cells), and the drugs comprised a low level of cytotoxicity. The findings highlighted the following: (i) the pronounced in vitro SI values of anti-HCMV activity obtained with CDK8 inhibitors; (ii) a confirmation of the anti-HCMV efficacy by CDK8-siRNA knock-down; (iii) a CDK8-dependent reduction in viral immediate early, early, and late protein levels; (iv) a main importance of CDK8 for viral late-stage replication; (v) several mechanistic aspects, which point to a strong impact on viral progeny production and release, but a lack of CDK8 relevance for viral entry or nuclear egress; (vi) a significant anti-HCMV drug synergy for combinations of inhibitors against host CDK8 and the viral kinase vCDK/pUL97 (maribavir); (vii) finally, a broad-spectrum antiviral activity, as seen for the comparison of selected α-, β-, γ-, and non-herpesviruses. Conclusions. In summary, these novel data provide evidence for the importance of CDK8 as a positive regulator of herpesviral replication efficiency, and moreover, suggest its exploitability as an antiviral target for novel strategies of host-directed drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Obergfäll
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Markus Wild
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Mona Sommerer
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Malena Barillas Dahm
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Jintawee Kicuntod
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Julia Tillmanns
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Melanie Kögler
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Josephine Lösing
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Kishore Dhotre
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Regina Müller
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Christina Wangen
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Sabrina Wagner
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Quang V. Phan
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (Q.V.P.); (L.W.)
- Richard Sherwood Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lüder Wiebusch
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (Q.V.P.); (L.W.)
| | - Katarína Briestenská
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (J.M.)
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jela Mistríková
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.B.); (J.M.)
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lauren Kerr-Jones
- Division of Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; (L.K.-J.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Richard J. Stanton
- Division of Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; (L.K.-J.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Sebastian Voigt
- University Clinical Center Essen (Universitätsklinikum, AöR), Institute for Virology, Virchowstr. 179, 45147 Essen, Germany;
| | - Friedrich Hahn
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
| | - Manfred Marschall
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (D.O.); (M.W.); (M.S.); (M.B.D.); (J.K.); (J.T.); (M.K.); (J.L.); (K.D.); (R.M.); (C.W.); (S.W.); (F.H.)
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Marschall M, Schütz M, Wild M, Socher E, Wangen C, Dhotre K, Rawlinson WD, Sticht H. Understanding the Cytomegalovirus Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Ortholog pUL97 as a Multifaceted Regulator and an Antiviral Drug Target. Cells 2024; 13:1338. [PMID: 39195228 DOI: 10.3390/cells13161338] [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: 07/04/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Herpesviral protein kinases, such as the therapy-relevant pUL97 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), are important for viral replication efficiency as well as pathogenesis, and represent key antiviral drug targets. HCMV pUL97 is a viral cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) ortholog, as it shares functional and structural properties with human CDKs. Recently, the formation of vCDK/pUL97-cyclin complexes and the phosphorylation of a variety of viral and cellular substrate proteins has been demonstrated. Genetic mapping and structural modeling approaches helped to define two pUL97 interfaces, IF1 and IF2, responsible for cyclin binding. In particular, the regulatory importance of interactions between vCDK/pUL97 and host cyclins as well as CDKs has been highlighted, both as determinants of virus replication and as a novel drug-targeting option. This aspect was substantiated by the finding that virus replication was impaired upon cyclin type H knock-down, and that such host-directed interference also affected viruses resistant to existing therapies. Beyond the formation of binary interactive complexes, a ternary pUL97-cyclin H-CDK7 complex has also been described, and in light of this, an experimental trans-stimulation of CDK7 activity by pUL97 appeared crucial for virus-host coregulation. In accordance with this understanding, several novel antiviral targeting options have emerged. These include kinase inhibitors directed to pUL97, to host CDKs, and to the pUL97-cyclin H interactive complexes. Importantly, a statistically significant drug synergy has recently been reported for antiviral treatment schemes using combinations of pharmacologically relevant CDK7 and vCDK/pUL97 inhibitors, including maribavir. Combined, such findings provide increased options for anti-HCMV control. This review focuses on regulatory interactions of vCDK/pUL97 with the host cyclin-CDK apparatus, and it addresses the functional relevance of these key effector complexes for viral replication and pathogenesis. On this basis, novel strategies of antiviral drug targeting are defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Marschall
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martin Schütz
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Wild
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eileen Socher
- Institute of Anatomy, Functional and Clinical Anatomy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Wangen
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kishore Dhotre
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - William D Rawlinson
- Serology and Virology Division, NSW Health Pathology Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Schools of Biomedical Sciences, Women's and Children's Health, Medicine and Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney 2050, Australia
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, FAU, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Tillmanns J, Kicuntod J, Ehring A, Elbasani E, Borst EM, Obergfäll D, Müller R, Hahn F, Marschall M. Establishment of a Luciferase-Based Reporter System to Study Aspects of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, Replication Characteristics, and Antiviral Drug Efficacy. Pathogens 2024; 13:645. [PMID: 39204245 PMCID: PMC11356942 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13080645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) represents a highly medically important pathogen which has constantly been the subject of both molecular and clinical investigations. HCMV infections, especially those in high-risk patients, still raise many unanswered questions, so current investigations are focused on viral pathogenesis, vaccine development, and options for antiviral drug targeting. To this end, the use of suitable viral strains as well as recombinant reporter constructs in cultured cells and model systems has specific significance. We previously reported on the application of various herpesviruses that express green, red, or related fluorescent proteins, especially in the fields of virus-host interaction and antiviral research. Here, we characterized a recombinant version of the clinically relevant and cell type-adaptable HCMV strain TB40, which expresses firefly luciferase as a quantitative reporter of viral replication (TB40-FLuc). The data provide evidence for five main conclusions. First, HCMV TB40-FLuc is employable in multiple settings in primary human cells. Second, viral reporter signals are easily quantifiable, even at early time points within viral replication. Third, the FLuc reporter reflects the kinetics of viral intracellular replication, cascade-like viral IE-E-L protein production, and progeny release. Fourth, as relates to specific applications of the TB40-FLuc system, we demonstrated the reliability of quantitative antiviral compound determination in multi-well formats and its independence from fluorescence-based measurements in the case of autofluorescent inhibitors. Finally, we illustrated increased reporter sensitivity in comparison to other recombinant HCMVs. In essence, recombinant HCMV TB40-FLuc combines several molecular properties that are considered beneficial in studies on viral host tropism, replication efficiency, and antiviral drug assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Tillmanns
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Jintawee Kicuntod
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Antonia Ehring
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Endrit Elbasani
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (E.E.); (E.M.B.)
| | - Eva Maria Borst
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (E.E.); (E.M.B.)
| | - Debora Obergfäll
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Regina Müller
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Friedrich Hahn
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Manfred Marschall
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
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Borges PHO, Ferreira SB, Silva FP. Recent Advances on Targeting Proteases for Antiviral Development. Viruses 2024; 16:366. [PMID: 38543732 PMCID: PMC10976044 DOI: 10.3390/v16030366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral proteases are an important target for drug development, since they can modulate vital pathways in viral replication, maturation, assembly and cell entry. With the (re)appearance of several new viruses responsible for causing diseases in humans, like the West Nile virus (WNV) and the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), understanding the mechanisms behind blocking viral protease's function is pivotal for the development of new antiviral drugs and therapeutical strategies. Apart from directly inhibiting the target protease, usually by targeting its active site, several new pathways have been explored to impair its activity, such as inducing protein aggregation, targeting allosteric sites or by inducing protein degradation by cellular proteasomes, which can be extremely valuable when considering the emerging drug-resistant strains. In this review, we aim to discuss the recent advances on a broad range of viral proteases inhibitors, therapies and molecular approaches for protein inactivation or degradation, giving an insight on different possible strategies against this important class of antiviral target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Henrique Oliveira Borges
- Laboratory of Organic Synthesis and Biological Prospecting, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Baptista Ferreira
- Laboratory of Organic Synthesis and Biological Prospecting, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil;
| | - Floriano Paes Silva
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
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Yu D, Wagner S, Schütz M, Jeon Y, Seo M, Kim J, Brückner N, Kicuntod J, Tillmanns J, Wangen C, Hahn F, Kaufer BB, Neipel F, Eickhoff J, Klebl B, Nam K, Marschall M. An Antiherpesviral Host-Directed Strategy Based on CDK7 Covalently Binding Drugs: Target-Selective, Picomolar-Dose, Cross-Virus Reactivity. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:158. [PMID: 38399219 PMCID: PMC10892818 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The repertoire of currently available antiviral drugs spans therapeutic applications against a number of important human pathogens distributed worldwide. These include cases of the pandemic severe acute respiratory coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1 or AIDS), and the pregnancy- and posttransplant-relevant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In almost all cases, approved therapies are based on direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), but their benefit, particularly in long-term applications, is often limited by the induction of viral drug resistance or side effects. These issues might be addressed by the additional use of host-directed antivirals (HDAs). As a strong input from long-term experiences with cancer therapies, host protein kinases may serve as HDA targets of mechanistically new antiviral drugs. The study demonstrates such a novel antiviral strategy by targeting the major virus-supportive host kinase CDK7. Importantly, this strategy focuses on highly selective, 3D structure-derived CDK7 inhibitors carrying a warhead moiety that mediates covalent target binding. In summary, the main experimental findings of this study are as follows: (1) the in vitro verification of CDK7 inhibition and selectivity that confirms the warhead covalent-binding principle (by CDK-specific kinase assays), (2) the highly pronounced antiviral efficacies of the hit compounds (in cultured cell-based infection models) with half-maximal effective concentrations that reach down to picomolar levels, (3) a particularly strong potency of compounds against strains and reporter-expressing recombinants of HCMV (using infection assays in primary human fibroblasts), (4) additional activity against further herpesviruses such as animal CMVs and VZV, (5) unique mechanistic properties that include an immediate block of HCMV replication directed early (determined by Western blot detection of viral marker proteins), (6) a substantial drug synergism in combination with MBV (measured by a Loewe additivity fixed-dose assay), and (7) a strong sensitivity of clinically relevant HCMV mutants carrying MBV or ganciclovir resistance markers. Combined, the data highlight the huge developmental potential of this host-directed antiviral targeting concept utilizing covalently binding CDK7 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- DongHoon Yu
- Qurient Co., Ltd., C-Dong, 242 Pangyo-ro, C801 Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13487, Republic of Korea
| | - Sabrina Wagner
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martin Schütz
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yeejin Jeon
- Qurient Co., Ltd., C-Dong, 242 Pangyo-ro, C801 Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13487, Republic of Korea
| | - Mooyoung Seo
- Qurient Co., Ltd., C-Dong, 242 Pangyo-ro, C801 Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13487, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeseung Kim
- Qurient Co., Ltd., C-Dong, 242 Pangyo-ro, C801 Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13487, Republic of Korea
| | - Nadine Brückner
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jintawee Kicuntod
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Tillmanns
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Wangen
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Friedrich Hahn
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Benedikt B. Kaufer
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7–13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Neipel
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Eickhoff
- Lead Discovery Center GmbH, Otto-Hahn-Straße 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Bert Klebl
- Lead Discovery Center GmbH, Otto-Hahn-Straße 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- The Norwegian College of Fishery Science UiT, Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kiyean Nam
- Qurient Co., Ltd., C-Dong, 242 Pangyo-ro, C801 Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13487, Republic of Korea
| | - Manfred Marschall
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virolosgy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schlossgarten 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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