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Sfogliarini C, Pepe G, Cesta CM, Allegretti M, Locati M, Vegeto E. The immune activity of selective estrogen receptor modulators is gene and macrophage subtype-specific yet converges on Il1b downregulation. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115008. [PMID: 37442065 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Raloxifene belongs to the family of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), which are drugs widely prescribed for Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα)-related pathologies. Recently, SERMs are being tested in repurposing strategies for ERα-independent clinical indications, including a wide range of microbial infections. Macrophages are central in the fight against pathogen invasion. Despite estrogens have been shown to regulate macrophage phenotype, SERMs activity in these cells is still poorly defined. We investigated the activity of Raloxifene in comparison with another widely used SERM, Tamoxifen, on immune gene expression in macrophages obtained from mouse and human tissues, including mouse peritoneal macrophages, bone marrow-derived macrophages, microglia or human blood-derived macrophages, assaying for the involvement of the ERα, PI3K and NRF2 pathways also under inflammatory conditions. Our data demonstrate that Raloxifene acts by a dual mechanism, which entails ERα antagonism and off-target mediators. Moreover, micromolar concentrations of Raloxifene increase the expression of immune metabolic genes, such as Vegfa and Hmox1, through PI3K and NRF2 activation selectively in peritoneal macrophages. Conversely, Il1b mRNA down-regulation by SERMs is consistently observed in all macrophage subtypes and unrelated to the PI3K/NRF2 system. Importantly, the production of the inflammatory cytokine TNFα induced by the bacterial endotoxin, LPS, is potentiated by SERMs and paralleled by the cell subtype-specific increase in IL1β secretion. This work extends our knowledge on the biological and molecular mechanisms of SERMs immune activity and indicate macrophages as a pharmacological target for the exploitation of the antimicrobial potential of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sfogliarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Pepe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Massimo Locati
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Vegeto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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2
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Lott N, Gebhard CE, Bengs S, Haider A, Kuster GM, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Gebhard C. Sex hormones in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility: key players or confounders? Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:217-231. [PMID: 36494595 PMCID: PMC9734735 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-022-00780-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has a clear sex disparity in clinical outcomes. Hence, the interaction between sex hormones, virus entry receptors and immune responses has attracted major interest as a target for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This Review summarizes the current understanding of the roles of androgens, oestrogens and progesterone in the regulation of virus entry receptors and disease progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as their therapeutic value. Although many experimental and clinical studies have analysed potential mechanisms by which female sex hormones might provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, there is currently no clear evidence for a sex-specific expression of virus entry receptors. In addition, reports describing an influence of oestrogen, progesterone and androgens on the course of COVID-19 vary widely. Current data also do not support the administration of oestradiol in COVID-19. The conflicting evidence and lack of consensus results from a paucity of mechanistic studies and clinical trials reporting sex-disaggregated data. Further, the influence of variables beyond biological factors (sex), such as sociocultural factors (gender), on COVID-19 manifestations has not been investigated. Future research will have to fill this knowledge gap as the influence of sex and gender on COVID-19 will be essential to understanding and managing the long-term consequences of this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Lott
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | - Susan Bengs
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gabriela M Kuster
- Department of Cardiology and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Gebhard
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
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3
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Stipp MC, Corso CR, Acco A. Impacts of COVID-19 in Breast Cancer: From Molecular Mechanism to the Treatment Approach. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2023; 24:238-252. [PMID: 35593354 DOI: 10.2174/1389201023666220421133311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has already infected more than 272 million people, resulting in 5.3 million deaths worldwide from COVID-19. Breast tumors are considered the world's most commonly diagnosed cancer. Both breast cancer and COVID-19 share common pathogenic features, represented by inflammatory mediators and the potential of SARS-CoV-2 replication in metastatic cancer cells. This may intensify viral load in patients, thereby triggering severe COVID-19 complications. Thus, cancer patients have a high risk of developing severe COVID-19 with SARS-CoV-2 infection and a higher rate of complications and death than non-cancer patients. The present review discusses common mechanisms between COVID-19 and breast cancer and the particular susceptibility to COVID-19 in breast cancer patients. We describe the effects of chemotherapeutic agents that are used against this cancer, which should be considered from the perspective of susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk of developing severe events. We also present potential drug interactions between chemotherapies that are used to treat breast cancer and drugs that are applied for COVID-19. The drugs that are identified as having the most interactions are doxorubicin and azithromycin. Both drugs can interact with each other and with other drugs, which likely requires additional drug monitoring and changes in drug dosage and timing of administration. Further clinical and observational studies involving breast cancer patients who acquire COVID-19 are needed to define the best therapeutic approach when considering the course of both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carolina Stipp
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandra Acco
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
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4
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Solis O, Beccari AR, Iaconis D, Talarico C, Ruiz-Bedoya CA, Nwachukwu JC, Cimini A, Castelli V, Bertini R, Montopoli M, Cocetta V, Borocci S, Prandi IG, Flavahan K, Bahr M, Napiorkowski A, Chillemi G, Ooka M, Yang X, Zhang S, Xia M, Zheng W, Bonaventura J, Pomper MG, Hooper JE, Morales M, Rosenberg AZ, Nettles KW, Jain SK, Allegretti M, Michaelides M. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds and modulates estrogen receptors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd4150. [PMID: 36449624 PMCID: PMC9710872 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add4150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein binds angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as its primary infection mechanism. Interactions between S and endogenous proteins occur after infection but are not well understood. We profiled binding of S against >9000 human proteins and found an interaction between S and human estrogen receptor α (ERα). Using bioinformatics, supercomputing, and experimental assays, we identified a highly conserved and functional nuclear receptor coregulator (NRC) LXD-like motif on the S2 subunit. In cultured cells, S DNA transfection increased ERα cytoplasmic accumulation, and S treatment induced ER-dependent biological effects. Non-invasive imaging in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters localized lung pathology with increased ERα lung levels. Postmortem lung experiments from infected hamsters and humans confirmed an increase in cytoplasmic ERα and its colocalization with S in alveolar macrophages. These findings describe the discovery of a S-ERα interaction, imply a role for S as an NRC, and advance knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 biology and coronavirus disease 2019 pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Solis
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | | | | | - Camilo A. Ruiz-Bedoya
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jerome C. Nwachukwu
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Monica Montopoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- VIMM- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata, Padova, Italy
| | - Veronica Cocetta
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Borocci
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ingrid G. Prandi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Kelly Flavahan
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Melissa Bahr
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Anna Napiorkowski
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Masato Ooka
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Shiliang Zhang
- Neuronal Networks Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Menghang Xia
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Jordi Bonaventura
- Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Martin G. Pomper
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jody E. Hooper
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marisela Morales
- Neuronal Networks Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Avi Z. Rosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Kendall W. Nettles
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Sanjay K. Jain
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Marcello Allegretti
- Dompé farmaceutici S.p.A, L’Aquila, Italy
- Corresponding author. (M.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Corresponding author. (M.M.); (M.A.)
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5
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Coelingh Bennink HJ, Egberts JF, Debruyne FM. Testosterone suppression combined with high dose estrogen as potential treatment of SARS-CoV-2. A mini review. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12376. [PMID: 36540359 PMCID: PMC9754753 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to females, males experience severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) more often, and also die more frequently from COVID-19. Testosterone has inhibitory and estrogens have favorable effects on the immune system. Both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are specific host-cellular proteins stimulating viral entry in cells and SARS-CoV-2. Both proteins can be suppressed by inhibition of testosterone levels and by stimulation of estrogen levels. Therefore, both androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and estrogen therapy (ET) may decrease COVID-19 virus cell entry. Literature was searched for evidence of COVID-19 treatment benefits with estrogens, progesterone, androgen deprivation, and anti-androgens. Data supporting the effect of ADT on SARS-CoV-2 are sparse and inconsistent. The benefit of anti-androgen therapy is inconsistent. Data on the effect of ET were not found. Indirect estrogen data related to menopausal hormone therapy and hormonal contraception are favorable. In a small study, progesterone had some beneficial effects. The combination of ADT and ET (ADET) has never been studied as a treatment option for SARS-CoV-2. Based on the mode of action of the combination, it is hypothesized that ADET may be an effective and safe treatment of SARS-CoV-2, to be confirmed in a clinical trial.
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6
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Alaeddini M, Etemad-Moghadam S. SARS-Cov-2 infection in cancer patients, susceptibility, outcome and care. Am J Med Sci 2022; 364:511-520. [PMID: 35605680 PMCID: PMC9119956 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2022.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many problems in cancer patients, which in part are due to insufficient knowledge of the exact implications of the virus on these individuals. Perceptions based on known facts about previous pandemics and coronaviruses might not agree with actual real-life experience and objective findings. We present a compilation of scientific facts and actual observations on different aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients. These patients are at increased risk of viral contraction and have higher chances of severe disease/mortality. The latter is impacted by other factors and is still debated. In contrast to preliminary impressions, the benefits of anti-cancer treatments outweigh their risks and should be continued. Cancer patients generate antibodies in response to vaccination but in lower amounts than healthy people, especially those with hematologic cancers. Boosters, including third doses, have shown increased immune-responses in most patients. Vaccination should be prioritized in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahroo Etemad-Moghadam
- Corresponding author at: Shahroo Etemad-Moghadam, Dentistry Research Institute, Dental Research Centre, Ghods St, Enghelab Ave, P.O. Box: 14155-5583; Postal code: 14174, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Kathuria-Prakash N, Antrim L, Hornstein N, Sun AW, Kang IM, Baclig NV, Angell TE, Lechner MG, Wald-Dickler N, In GK. Factors Associated With Hospitalization Among Breast Cancer Patients With COVID-19: A Diverse Multi-Center Los Angeles Cohort Study. Clin Breast Cancer 2022; 22:e558-e566. [PMID: 35027318 PMCID: PMC8677421 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected and killed millions of people worldwide. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and few studies have investigated the outcomes of patients with a history of breast cancer and COVID-19. We report the clinical outcomes of patients with invasive breast cancer who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including hospitalization and death, and evaluate demographic and cancer-related factors associated with these outcomes. PATIENTS Patients with a history of invasive breast cancer and positive SARS-CoV-2 test from January 1 to December 31, 2020 at two large, academic Los Angeles health systems were included. METHODS Retrospective chart review of the electronic medical record was performed. Data for demographic and cancer-related factors were manually abstracted. Relationships between outcomes and clinical variables were evaluated using Fisher's exact test and linear regression analysis. RESULTS Among a total of 132 patients, 40 (30.3%) were hospitalized, while 11 (8.3%) required intensive care support, and 8 patients (6.1%) died. Older age and presence of one or more additional comorbidities were associated with hospitalization and death (P = .010, P = .003, P = .034, P < .001). Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity was associated with hospitalization (P = .047). Cancer treatment was not associated with hospitalization or death. CONCLUSION In our diverse, multi-center, breast cancer cohort, Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity, older age and presence of other comorbidities were associated with worse outcomes from COVID-19. Breast cancer treatment, including surgery, radiation, systemic therapy, and endocrine therapy, was not associated with hospitalization in our cohort. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between breast cancer and COVID-19 outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren Antrim
- Department of Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Nicholas Hornstein
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Irene M. Kang
- Division of Oncology, USC Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Nikita V. Baclig
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Trevor E. Angell
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Melissa G. Lechner
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Noah Wald-Dickler
- Department of Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033,Division of Infectious Diseases, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Gino K. In
- Division of Oncology, USC Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033,Address for correspondence: Gino K. In, MD, MPH, University of Southern California, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, 1441 Eastlake Ave, NTT 3449, Los Angeles, CA 90033
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8
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Iaconis D, Bordi L, Matusali G, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Cesta MC, Zippoli M, Caccuri F, Bugatti A, Zani A, Filippini F, Scorzolini L, Gobbi M, Beeg M, Piotti A, Montopoli M, Cocetta V, Bressan S, Bucci EM, Caruso A, Nicastri E, Allegretti M, Beccari AR. Characterization of raloxifene as a potential pharmacological agent against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:498. [PMID: 35614039 PMCID: PMC9130985 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04961-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which so far has caused over 6 million deaths in 2 years, despite new vaccines and antiviral medications. Drug repurposing, an approach for the potential application of existing pharmaceutical products to new therapeutic indications, could be an effective strategy to obtain quick answers to medical emergencies. Following a virtual screening campaign on the most relevant viral proteins, we identified the drug raloxifene, a known Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), as a new potential agent to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients. In this paper we report a comprehensive pharmacological characterization of raloxifene in relevant in vitro models of COVID-19, specifically in Vero E6 and Calu-3 cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2. A large panel of the most common SARS-CoV-2 variants isolated in Europe, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and India was tested to demonstrate the drug's ability in contrasting the viral cytopathic effect (CPE). Literature data support a beneficial effect by raloxifene against the viral infection due to its ability to interact with viral proteins and activate protective estrogen receptor-mediated mechanisms in the host cells. Mechanistic studies here reported confirm the significant affinity of raloxifene for the Spike protein, as predicted by in silico studies, and show that the drug treatment does not directly affect Spike/ACE2 interaction or viral internalization in infected cell lines. Interestingly, raloxifene can counteract Spike-mediated ADAM17 activation in human pulmonary cells, thus providing new insights on its mechanism of action. A clinical study in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients (NCT05172050) has been recently completed. Our contribution to evaluate raloxifene results on SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the interpretation of the mechanisms of action will be key elements to better understand the trial results, and to design new clinical studies aiming to evaluate the potential development of raloxifene in this indication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Licia Bordi
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Matusali
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Francesca Caccuri
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Scorzolini
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Marten Beeg
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Piotti
- grid.4527.40000000106678902Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Montopoli
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Cocetta
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Bressan
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, VIMM Veneto Institute Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico M. Bucci
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Sbarro Health Research Organization, Biology Department CFT, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- grid.7637.50000000417571846Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- grid.419423.90000 0004 1760 4142National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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9
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Solis O, Beccari AR, Iaconis D, Talarico C, Ruiz-Bedoya CA, Nwachukwu JC, Cimini A, Castelli V, Bertini R, Montopoli M, Cocetta V, Borocci S, Prandi IG, Flavahan K, Bahr M, Napiorkowski A, Chillemi G, Ooka M, Yang X, Zhang S, Xia M, Zheng W, Bonaventura J, Pomper MG, Hooper JE, Morales M, Rosenberg AZ, Nettles KW, Jain SK, Allegretti M, Michaelides M. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds and modulates estrogen receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.05.21.492920. [PMID: 35665018 PMCID: PMC9164441 DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.21.492920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein binds angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) at the cell surface, which constitutes the primary mechanism driving SARS-CoV-2 infection. Molecular interactions between the transduced S and endogenous proteins likely occur post-infection, but such interactions are not well understood. We used an unbiased primary screen to profile the binding of full-length S against >9,000 human proteins and found significant S-host protein interactions, including one between S and human estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). After confirming this interaction in a secondary assay, we used bioinformatics, supercomputing, and experimental assays to identify a highly conserved and functional nuclear receptor coregulator (NRC) LXD-like motif on the S2 subunit and an S-ERα binding mode. In cultured cells, S DNA transfection increased ERα cytoplasmic accumulation, and S treatment induced ER-dependent biological effects and ACE2 expression. Noninvasive multimodal PET/CT imaging in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters using [ 18 F]fluoroestradiol (FES) localized lung pathology with increased ERα lung levels. Postmortem experiments in lung tissues from SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters and humans confirmed an increase in cytoplasmic ERα expression and its colocalization with S protein in alveolar macrophages. These findings describe the discovery and characterization of a novel S-ERα interaction, imply a role for S as an NRC, and are poised to advance knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 biology, COVID-19 pathology, and mechanisms of sex differences in the pathology of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Solis
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Camilo A. Ruiz-Bedoya
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jerome C. Nwachukwu
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Monica Montopoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- VIMM- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione per la Ricerca Biomedica Avanzata, Padova, Italy
| | - Veronica Cocetta
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Borocci
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ingrid G. Prandi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Kelly Flavahan
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Melissa Bahr
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anna Napiorkowski
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Masato Ooka
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shiliang Zhang
- Neuronal Networks Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Menghang Xia
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jordi Bonaventura
- Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia
| | - Martin G. Pomper
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jody E. Hooper
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marisela Morales
- Neuronal Networks Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
| | - Avi Z. Rosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kendall W. Nettles
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Sanjay K. Jain
- Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1550 Orleans Street, CRB-II Room 109, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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10
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Brandi ML. Are sex hormones promising candidates to explain sex disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic? Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2022; 23:171-183. [PMID: 34761329 PMCID: PMC8580578 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-021-09692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that the novel Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is deadlier for men than women both in China and in Europe. Male sex is a risk factor for COVID-19 mortality. The meccanisms underlying the reduced morbidity and lethality in women are currently unclear, even though hypotheses have been posed (Brandi and Giustina in Trends Endocrinol Metab. 31:918-27, 2020). This article aims to describe the role of sex hormones in sex- and gender-related fatality of COVID-19. We discuss the possibility that potential sex-specific mechanisms modulating the course of the disease include both the androgen- and the estrogen-response cascade. Sex hormones regulate the respiratory function, the innate and adaptive immune responses, the immunoaging, the cardiovascular system, and the entrance of the virus in the cells. Recommendations for the future government policies and for the management of COVID-19 patients should include a dimorphic approach for males and females. As the estrogen receptor signaling appears critical for protection in women, more studies are needed to translate the basic knowledge into clinical actions. Understanding the etiological bases of sexual dimorphism in COVID-19 could help develop more effective strategies in individual patients in both sexes, including designing a good vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Brandi
- Fondazione Italiana Per La Ricerca Sulle Malattie Dell'Osso, Florence, Italy.
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11
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Zanelli S, Fiorio E, Zampiva I, Zacchi F, Borghesani G, Giontella E, Parolin V, Biondani P, Zuliani S, Dieci MV, Mioranza E, Zorzi M, Conti M, Gibellini D, Verlato G, Milella M. Risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in breast cancer patients undergoing a structured infection screening program at the University and Hospital Trust of Verona. Ann Oncol 2022; 33:661-663. [PMID: 35276335 PMCID: PMC8904004 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.02.227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S Zanelli
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - E Fiorio
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - I Zampiva
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy; Centro Ricerche Cliniche di Verona (CRC), Verona, Italy
| | - F Zacchi
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - G Borghesani
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - E Giontella
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - V Parolin
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - P Biondani
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - S Zuliani
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M V Dieci
- Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy; Department of Oncology, Surgery and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - E Mioranza
- Medical Oncology 2, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - M Zorzi
- Veneto Tumor Registry, Azienda Zero, Padua, Italy
| | - M Conti
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - D Gibellini
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Microbiology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - G Verlato
- Section of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - M Milella
- Section of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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12
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Bengs S, Rossi A, Haberecker M, Mikail N, Meisel A, Haider A, Grämer M, Portmann A, Todorov A, Schönenberger C, Gebhard CE, Kuster GM, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Gebhard C. Immunoreactivity of the SARS-CoV-2 entry proteins ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 in murine models of hormonal manipulation, ageing, and cardiac injury. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23993. [PMID: 34907257 PMCID: PMC8671541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03181-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work indicates that SARS-CoV-2 virus entry proteins angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) and the cell surface transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS-2) are regulated by sex hormones. However, clinical studies addressing this association have yielded conflicting results. We sought to analyze the impact of sex hormones, age, and cardiovascular disease on ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 expression in different mouse models. ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 expression was analyzed by immunostaining in a variety of tissues obtained from FVB/N mice undergoing either gonadectomy or sham-surgery and being subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury or transverse aortic constriction surgery. In lung tissues sex did not have a significant impact on the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2. On the contrary, following myocardial injury, female sex was associated to a lower expression of ACE-2 at the level of the kidney tubules. In addition, after myocardial injury, a significant correlation between younger age and higher expression of both ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 was observed for lung alveoli and bronchioli, kidney tubules, and liver sinusoids. Our experimental data indicate that gonadal hormones and biological sex do not alter ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 expression in the respiratory tract in mice, independent of disease state. Thus, sex differences in ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 protein expression observed in mice may not explain the higher disease burden of COVID-19 among men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Bengs
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Alexia Rossi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Martina Haberecker
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nidaa Mikail
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Meisel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Muriel Grämer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Angela Portmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Atanas Todorov
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Gabriela M Kuster
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine, Myocardial Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Gebhard
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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13
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Repurposing the estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Death Differ 2021; 29:156-166. [PMID: 34404919 PMCID: PMC8370058 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00844-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) necessitates strategies to identify prophylactic and therapeutic drug candidates to enter rapid clinical development. This is particularly true, given the uncertainty about the endurance of the immune memory induced by both previous infections or vaccines, and given the fact that the eradication of SARS-CoV-2 might be challenging to reach, given the attack rate of the virus, which would require unusually high protection by a vaccine. Here, we show how raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator with anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, emerges as an attractive candidate entering clinical trials to test its efficacy in early-stage treatment COVID-19 patients.
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14
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Oh KK, Adnan M, Cho DH. Drug-repurposing against COVID-19 by targeting a key signaling pathway: An in silico study. Med Hypotheses 2021; 155:110656. [PMID: 34399157 PMCID: PMC8349734 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2021.110656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Currently, a plethora of information has been accumulated concerning COVID-19, including the transmission pathway of SARs-CoV-2. Thus, we retrieved targets associated with the development of COVID-19 via PubChem. A total of 517 targets were identified, and signaling pathways responded after infection of SARs-CoV-2 in humans constructed a bubble chart using RPackage. The bubble chart result suggested that the key signaling pathway against COVID-19 was the estrogen signaling pathway associated with AKT1, HSP90AB1, BCL2 targets. The three targets have the strongest affinity with three ligands-Akti-1/2, HSP990, S55746, respectively. In conclusion, this work provides three key elements to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms might be anti-inflammatory effects on SARs-CoV-2-infected lung cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Kwang Oh
- Department of Bio-Health Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, South Korea
| | - Md Adnan
- Department of Bio-Health Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, South Korea
| | - Dong Ha Cho
- Department of Bio-Health Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, South Korea.
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15
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Zhao X, Cong S, Guo Q, Cheng Y, Liang T, Wang J, Zhang G. Combination of Immune-Related Genomic Alterations Reveals Immune Characterization and Prediction of Different Prognostic Risks in Ovarian Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:653357. [PMID: 33968933 PMCID: PMC8102990 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.653357] [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: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With the highest case-fatality rate among women, the molecular pathological alterations of ovarian cancer (OV) are complex, depending on the diversity of genomic alterations. Increasing evidence supports that immune infiltration in tumors is associated with prognosis. Therefore, we aim to assess infiltration in OV using multiple methods to capture genomic signatures regulating immune events to identify reliable predictions of different outcomes. A dataset of 309 ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma patients with overall survival >90 days from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was analyzed. Multiple estimations and clustering methods identified and verified two immune clusters with component differences. Functional analyses pointed out immune-related alterations underlying internal genomic variables potentially. After extracting immune genes from a public database, the LASSO Cox regression model with 10-fold cross-validation was used for selecting genes associated with overall survival rate significantly, and a risk score model was then constructed. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses among cohorts were performed systematically to evaluate prognostic efficiency among the risk score model and other clinical pathological parameters, establishing a predictive ability independently. Furthermore, this risk score model was compared among identified signatures in previous studies and applied to two external cohorts, showing better prediction performance and generalization ability, and also validated as robust in association with immune cell infiltration in bulk tissues. Besides, a transcription factor regulation network suggested upper regulatory mechanisms in OV. Our immune risk score model may provide gyneco-oncologists with predictive values for the prognosis and treatment management of patients with OV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Guangmei Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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16
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Di Vincenzo A, Andrisani A, Vettor R, Rossato M. Estrogen and COVID-19: friend or foe? Ann Oncol 2021; 32:933-934. [PMID: 33794291 PMCID: PMC8005378 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.03.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Di Vincenzo
- Clinica Medica 3, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Andrisani
- Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - R Vettor
- Clinica Medica 3, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - M Rossato
- Clinica Medica 3, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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