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Borin A, Coimbra LD, Bispo-Dos-Santos K, Naciuk FF, Fontoura M, Simeoni CL, Gomes GV, Amorim MR, Gravina HD, Shimizu JF, Passos ASC, de Oliveira IM, de Carvalho AC, Cardoso AC, Parise PL, Toledo-Teixeira DA, Sotorilli GE, Persinoti GF, Claro IM, Sabino EC, Alborghetti MR, Rocco SA, Franchini KG, de Souza WM, Oliveira PSL, Cunha TM, Granja F, Proença-Módena JL, Trivella DBB, Bruder M, Cordeiro AT, Marques RE. Identification and characterization of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of cationic amphiphilic steroidal compounds. Virulence 2022; 13:1031-1048. [PMID: 35734825 PMCID: PMC9235892 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2085793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant loss of human lives and a worldwide decline in quality of life. Treatment of COVID-19 patients is challenging, and specific treatments to reduce COVID-19 aggravation and mortality are still necessary. Here, we describe the discovery of a novel class of epiandrosterone steroidal compounds with cationic amphiphilic properties that present antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in the low micromolar range. Compounds were identified in screening campaigns using a cytopathic effect-based assay in Vero CCL81 cells, followed by hit compound validation and characterization. Compounds LNB167 and LNB169 were selected due to their ability to reduce the levels of infectious viral progeny and viral RNA levels in Vero CCL81, HEK293, and HuH7.5 cell lines. Mechanistic studies in Vero CCL81 cells indicated that LNB167 and LNB169 inhibited the initial phase of viral replication through mechanisms involving modulation of membrane lipids and cholesterol in host cells. Selection of viral variants resistant to steroidal compound treatment revealed single mutations on transmembrane, lipid membrane-interacting Spike and Envelope proteins. Finally, in vivo testing using the hACE2 transgenic mouse model indicated that SARS-CoV-2 infection could not be ameliorated by LNB167 treatment. We conclude that anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities of steroidal compounds LNB167 and LNB169 are likely host-targeted, consistent with the properties of cationic amphiphilic compounds that modulate host cell lipid biology. Although effective in vitro, protective effects were cell-type specific and did not translate to protection in vivo, indicating that subversion of lipid membrane physiology is an important, yet complex mechanism involved in SARS-CoV-2 replication and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Borin
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Laís D Coimbra
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Karina Bispo-Dos-Santos
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Fabrício F Naciuk
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marina Fontoura
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Camila L Simeoni
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Giovanni V Gomes
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Mariene R Amorim
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Humberto D Gravina
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Farinha Shimizu
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Amanda S C Passos
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Isadora M de Oliveira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina de Carvalho
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alisson Campos Cardoso
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Pierina L Parise
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Daniel A Toledo-Teixeira
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Giuliana E Sotorilli
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Gabriela F Persinoti
- Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ingra Morales Claro
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ester C Sabino
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos R Alborghetti
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Silvana A Rocco
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Kleber G Franchini
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - William M de Souza
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Paulo S L Oliveira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Thiago M Cunha
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Granja
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Biodiversity Research Center, Federal University of Roraima (UFRR), Boa Vista, Brazil
| | - José Luiz Proença-Módena
- Laboratory of Emerging Viruses (LEVE), Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Experimental Medicine Research Cluster, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Daniela B B Trivella
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marjorie Bruder
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Artur T Cordeiro
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Elias Marques
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory - LNBio, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil
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