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Liu S, Chen H, Chen X, Luo N, Peraramelli S, Gong X, Zhang MJ, Ou L. Utilizing noncatalytic ACE2 protein mutant as a competitive inhibitor to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1365803. [PMID: 38646520 PMCID: PMC11032047 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1365803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Angiotensin converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of angiotensin 2 into angiotensin 1-7. ACE2 also serves as the receptor of several coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, ACE2 could be utilized as a therapeutic target for treating these coronaviruses, ideally lacking enzymatic function. Methods Based on structural analysis, specific mutations were introduced to generate mutants of ACE2 and ACE2-Fc (fusion protein of ACE2 and Fc region of IgG1). The enzyme activity, binding affinity, and neutralization abilities were measured. Results and discussion As predicted, five mutants (AMI081, AMI082, AMI083, AMI084, AMI090) have completely depleted ACE2 enzymatic activities. More importantly, enzyme-linked receptor-ligand assay (ELRLA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) results showed that 2 mutants (AMI082, AMI090) maintained binding activity to the viral spike proteins of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. In An in vitro neutralization experiment using a pseudovirus, SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein-packed lentivirus particles, was also performed, showing that AMI082 and AMI090 significantly reduced GFP transgene expression. Further, in vitro virulent neutralization assays using SARS-CoV-2 (strain name: USA-WA1/2020) showed that AMI082 and AMI090 had remarkable inhibitory effects, indicated by comparable IC50 to wildtype ACE2 (5.33 µg/mL). In addition to the direct administration of mutant proteins, an alternative strategy for treating COVID-19 is through AAV delivery to achieve long-lasting effects. Therefore, AAV5 encoding AMI082 and AMI090 were packaged and transgene expression was assessed. In summary, these ACE2 mutants represent a novel approach to prevent or treat COVID-19 and other viruses with the same spike protein.
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Rutten L, Swart M, Koornneef A, Bouchier P, Blokland S, Sadi A, Juraszek J, Vijayan A, Schmit-Tillemans S, Verspuij J, Choi Y, Daal CE, Perkasa A, Torres Morales S, Myeni SK, Kikkert M, Tolboom J, van Manen D, Kuipers H, Schuitemaker H, Zahn R, Langedijk JPM. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 spike stability and RBD exposure on antigenicity and immunogenicity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5735. [PMID: 38459086 PMCID: PMC10923862 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56293-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 induces neutralizing antibodies and is the key component of current COVID-19 vaccines. The most efficacious COVID-19 vaccines are genetically-encoded spikes with a double proline substitution in the hinge region to stabilize S in the prefusion conformation (S-2P). A subunit vaccine can be a valuable addition to mRNA and viral vector-based vaccines but requires high stability of spike. In addition, further stabilization of the prefusion conformation of spike might improve immunogenicity. To test this, five spike proteins were designed and characterized, ranging from low to high stability. The immunogenicity of these proteins was assessed in mice, demonstrating that a spike (S-closed-2) with a high melting temperature, which still allowed ACE2 binding, induced the highest neutralization titers against homologous and heterologous strains (up to 16-fold higher than the least stabilized spike). In contrast, the most stable spike variant (S-locked), in which the receptor binding domains (RBDs) were locked in a closed conformation and thus not able to breathe, induced relatively low neutralizing antibody titers against heterologous strains. These data demonstrate that S protein stabilization with RBDs exposing highly conserved epitopes may be needed to increase the immunogenicity of spike proteins for future COVID-19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Rutten
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Swart
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annemart Koornneef
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pascale Bouchier
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Blokland
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ava Sadi
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jarek Juraszek
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aneesh Vijayan
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Johan Verspuij
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ying Choi
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chenandly E Daal
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aditya Perkasa
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shessy Torres Morales
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sebenzile K Myeni
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Tolboom
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle van Manen
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Harmjan Kuipers
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke Schuitemaker
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Zahn
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes P M Langedijk
- Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V., Archimedesweg 4-6, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- ForgeBio, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Alfaleh MA, Alsulaiman RM, Almahboub SA, Nezamuldeen L, Zawawi A, Aljehani ND, Yasir M, Abdulal RH, Alkhaldi R, Helal A, Alamri SS, Malki J, Alhabbab RY, Abujamel TS, Alhakamy NA, Alnami A, Algaissi A, Hassanain M, Hashem AM. ACE2-Fc and DPP4-Fc decoy receptors against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV variants: a quick therapeutic option for current and future coronaviruses outbreaks. Antib Ther 2024; 7:53-66. [PMID: 38371953 PMCID: PMC10873275 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are highly pathogenic human coronaviruses (CoVs). Anti-CoVs mAbs and vaccines may be effective, but the emergence of neutralization escape variants is inevitable. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 enzyme are the getaway receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, respectively. Thus, we reformatted these receptors as Fc-fusion decoy receptors. Then, we tested them in parallel with anti-SARS-CoV (ab1-IgG) and anti-MERS-CoV (M336-IgG) mAbs against several variants using pseudovirus neutralization assay. The generated Fc-based decoy receptors exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against all pseudotyped CoVs. Results showed that although mAbs can be effective antiviral drugs, they might rapidly lose their efficacy against highly mutated viruses. We suggest that receptor traps can be engineered as Fc-fusion proteins for highly mutating viruses with known entry receptors, for a faster and effective therapeutic response even against virus harboring antibodies escape mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A Alfaleh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem M Alsulaiman
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah A Almahboub
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena Nezamuldeen
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayat Zawawi
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najwa D Aljehani
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rwaa H Abdulal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rami Alkhaldi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Assala Helal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sawsan S Alamri
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jana Malki
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rowa Y Alhabbab
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki S Abujamel
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabil A Alhakamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Alnami
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Algaissi
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen Hassanain
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M Hashem
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
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Benjakul S, Anthi AK, Kolderup A, Vaysburd M, Lode HE, Mallery D, Fossum E, Vikse EL, Albecka A, Ianevski A, Kainov D, Karlsen KF, Sakya SA, Nyquist-Andersen M, Gjølberg TT, Moe MC, Bjørås M, Sandlie I, James LC, Andersen JT. A pan-SARS-CoV-2-specific soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-albumin fusion engineered for enhanced plasma half-life and needle-free mucosal delivery. PNAS Nexus 2023; 2:pgad403. [PMID: 38077689 PMCID: PMC10703496 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Immunocompromised patients often fail to raise protective vaccine-induced immunity against the global emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. Although monoclonal antibodies have been authorized for clinical use, most have lost their ability to potently neutralize the evolving Omicron subvariants. Thus, there is an urgent need for treatment strategies that can provide protection against these and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants to prevent the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019. Here, we report on the design and characterization of a long-acting viral entry-blocking angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) dimeric fusion molecule. Specifically, a soluble truncated human dimeric ACE2 variant, engineered for improved binding to the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, was fused with human albumin tailored for favorable engagement of the neonatal fragment crystallizable receptor (FcRn), which resulted in enhanced plasma half-life and allowed for needle-free transmucosal delivery upon nasal administration in human FcRn-expressing transgenic mice. Importantly, the dimeric ACE2-fused albumin demonstrated potent neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 immune escape variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sopisa Benjakul
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Aina Karen Anthi
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Anette Kolderup
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Marina Vaysburd
- Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division, Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Heidrun Elisabeth Lode
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo 0450, Norway
| | - Donna Mallery
- Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division, Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Even Fossum
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0213, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Lea Vikse
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0213, Norway
| | - Anna Albecka
- Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division, Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Aleksandr Ianevski
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Denis Kainov
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7491, Norway
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| | - Karine Flem Karlsen
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Siri Aastedatter Sakya
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Mari Nyquist-Andersen
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Torleif Tollefsrud Gjølberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo 0450, Norway
| | - Morten C Moe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo 0450, Norway
| | - Magnar Bjørås
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0213, Norway
| | - Inger Sandlie
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo 0371, Norway
| | - Leo C James
- Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division, Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jan Terje Andersen
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo 0372, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance (PRIMA), University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
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5
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Lu M, Yao W, Li Y, Ma D, Zhang Z, Wang H, Tang X, Wang Y, Li C, Cheng D, Lin H, Yin Y, Zhao J, Zhong G. Broadly Effective ACE2 Decoy Proteins Protect Mice from Lethal SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0110023. [PMID: 37395664 PMCID: PMC10434153 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01100-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants have been causing increasingly serious drug resistance problem, development of broadly effective and hard-to-escape anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents is an urgent need. Here, we describe further development and characterization of two SARS-CoV-2 receptor decoy proteins, ACE2-Ig-95 and ACE2-Ig-105/106. We found that both proteins had potent and robust in vitro neutralization activities against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants, including BQ.1 and XBB.1, that are resistant to most clinically used monoclonal antibodies. In a stringent lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection mouse model, both proteins lowered the lung viral load by up to ~1,000-fold, prevented the emergence of clinical signs in >75% animals, and increased the animal survival rate from 0% (untreated) to >87.5% (treated). These results demonstrate that both proteins are good drug candidates for protecting animals from severe COVID-19. In a head-to-head comparison of these two proteins with five previously described ACE2-Ig constructs, we found that two constructs, each carrying five surface mutations in the ACE2 region, had partial loss of neutralization potency against three SARS-CoV-2 variants. These data suggest that extensively mutating ACE2 residues near the receptor binding domain (RBD)-binding interface should be avoided or performed with extra caution. Furthermore, we found that both ACE2-Ig-95 and ACE2-Ig-105/106 could be produced to the level of grams per liter, demonstrating the developability of them as biologic drug candidates. Stress condition stability testing of them further suggests that more studies are required in the future to improve the stability of these proteins. These studies provide useful insight into critical factors for engineering and preclinical development of ACE2 decoys as broadly effective therapeutics against diverse ACE2-utilizing coronaviruses. IMPORTANCE Engineering soluble ACE2 proteins that function as a receptor decoy to block SARS-CoV-2 infection is a very attractive approach to creating broadly effective and hard-to-escape anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. This article describes development of two antibody-like soluble ACE2 proteins that broadly block diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron. In a stringent COVID-19 mouse model, both proteins successfully protected >87.5% animals from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, a head-to-head comparison of the two constructs developed in this study with five previously described ACE2 decoy constructs was performed here. Two previously described constructs with relatively more ACE2 surface mutations were found with less robust neutralization activities against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. Furthermore, the developability of the two proteins as biologic drug candidates was also assessed here. This study provides two broad anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates and useful insight into critical factors for engineering and preclinical development of ACE2 decoys as broadly effective therapeutics against diverse ACE2-utilizing coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weitong Yao
- Hubei JiangXia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yujun Li
- Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Danting Ma
- Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Haimin Wang
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaojuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chao Li
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Dechun Cheng
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua Lin
- Biomedical Research Center of South China, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yandong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guocai Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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6
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Song L, Shan H, Huang J. Development of HEK293T-produced recombinant receptor-Fc proteins as potential candidates against canine distemper virus. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1180673. [PMID: 37215466 PMCID: PMC10196245 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1180673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine distemper (CD) is a highly contagious viral disease worldwide. Although live attenuated vaccine is available as a preventive measure against the disease, cases of vaccination failure highlight the importance of potential alternative agent against canine distemper virus (CDV). CDV infects cells mainly by binding signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) and Nectin-4 receptor. Here, to develop a new and safe antiviral biological agent for CD, we constructed and expressed CDV receptor proteins fused with Fc region of canine IgG-B, namely, SLAM-Fc, Nectin-Fc and SLAM-Nectin-Fc in HEK293T cells, and antiviral activity of these receptor-Fc proteins was subsequently evaluated. The results showed that the receptor-Fc proteins efficiently bound to receptor binding domain (RBD) of CDV-H, meanwhile, these receptor-Fc proteins competitively inhibited the binding of His-tagged receptor proteins (SLAM-His or Nectin-His) to CDV-H-RBD-Flag protein. Importantly, receptor-Fc proteins exhibited potent anti-CDV activity in vitro. Treatment with receptor-Fc proteins at the pre-entry stage dramatically suppressed CDV infectivity in Vero cells stably expressing canine SLAM. The minimum effective concentration (MEC) of SLAM-Fc, Nectin-Fc and SLAM-Nectin-Fc was 0.2 μg/mL, 0.2 μg/mL, 0.02 μg/mL. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of three proteins was 0.58 μg/mL, 0.32 μg/mL and 0.18 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, treatment with receptor-Fc proteins post viral infection can also inhibit CDV reproduction, the MEC of SLAM-Fc, Nectin-Fc and SLAM-Nectin-Fc was same as pre-treatment, and the IC50 of receptor-Fc proteins was 1.10 μg/mL, 0.99 μg/mL and 0.32 μg/mL, respectively. The results suggested that the receptor-Fc proteins were more effective for pre-entry treatment than post-infection treatment, furthermore, SLAM-Nectin-Fc was more effective than SLAM-Fc and Nectin-Fc. These findings revealed the receptor-Fc proteins were promising candidates as inhibitor against CDV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Development of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Research Center for Veterinary Biological Engineering and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Hu Shan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Development of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Research Center for Veterinary Biological Engineering and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Juan Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Development of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Research Center for Veterinary Biological Engineering and Technology, Qingdao, China
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7
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Izadi S, Vavra U, Melnik S, Grünwald-Gruber C, Föderl-Höbenreich E, Sack M, Zatloukal K, Glössl J, Stöger E, Mach L, Castilho A, Strasser R. In planta deglycosylation improves the SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity of recombinant ACE2-Fc. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1180044. [PMID: 37207124 PMCID: PMC10190127 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1180044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infects human cells via binding of the viral spike glycoprotein to its main cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The spike protein-ACE2 receptor interaction is therefore a major target for the development of therapeutic or prophylactic drugs to combat coronavirus infections. Various engineered soluble ACE2 variants (decoys) have been designed and shown to exhibit virus neutralization capacity in cell-based assays and in vivo models. Human ACE2 is heavily glycosylated and some of its glycans impair binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Therefore, glycan-engineered recombinant soluble ACE2 variants might display enhanced virus-neutralization potencies. Here, we transiently co-expressed the extracellular domain of ACE2 fused to human Fc (ACE2-Fc) with a bacterial endoglycosidase in Nicotiana benthamiana to produce ACE2-Fc decorated with N-glycans consisting of single GlcNAc residues. The endoglycosidase was targeted to the Golgi apparatus with the intention to avoid any interference of glycan removal with concomitant ACE2-Fc protein folding and quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum. The in vivo deglycosylated ACE2-Fc carrying single GlcNAc residues displayed increased affinity to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 as well as improved virus neutralization activity and thus is a promising drug candidate to block coronavirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Izadi
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stanislav Melnik
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Kurt Zatloukal
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Josef Glössl
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Stöger
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Castilho
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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8
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Yu X, Juraszek J, Rutten L, Bakkers MJG, Blokland S, Melchers JM, van den Broek NJF, Verwilligen AYW, Abeywickrema P, Vingerhoets J, Neefs JM, Bakhash SAM, Roychoudhury P, Greninger A, Sharma S, Langedijk JPM. Convergence of immune escape strategies highlights plasticity of SARS-CoV-2 spike. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011308. [PMID: 37126534 PMCID: PMC10174534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in emergence of lineages which impact the effectiveness of immunotherapies and vaccines that are based on the early Wuhan isolate. All currently approved vaccines employ the spike protein S, as it is the target for neutralizing antibodies. Here we describe two SARS-CoV-2 isolates with unusually large deletions in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike. Cryo-EM structural analysis shows that the deletions result in complete reshaping of the NTD supersite, an antigenically important region of the NTD. For both spike variants the remodeling of the NTD negatively affects binding of all tested NTD-specific antibodies in and outside of the NTD supersite. For one of the variants, we observed a P9L mediated shift of the signal peptide cleavage site resulting in the loss of a disulfide-bridge; a unique escape mechanism with high antigenic impact. Although the observed deletions and disulfide mutations are rare, similar modifications have become independently established in several other lineages, indicating a possibility to become more dominant in the future. The observed plasticity of the NTD foreshadows its broad potential for immune escape with the continued spread of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodi Yu
- Structural & Protein Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jarek Juraszek
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lucy Rutten
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Sven Blokland
- Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Pravien Abeywickrema
- Structural & Protein Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Johan Vingerhoets
- Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Jean-Marc Neefs
- Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Discovery Sciences, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Shah A Mohamed Bakhash
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Virology Division, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Pavitra Roychoudhury
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Virology Division, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alex Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Virology Division, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sujata Sharma
- Structural & Protein Sciences, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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9
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Swart M, van der Lubbe J, Schmit-Tillemans S, van Huizen E, Verspuij J, Gil AI, Choi Y, Daal C, Perkasa A, de Wilde A, Claassen E, de Jong R, Wiese KE, Cornelissen L, van Es M, van Heerden M, Kourkouta E, Tahiri I, Mulders M, Vreugdenhil J, Feddes-de Boer K, Muchene L, Tolboom J, Dekking L, Juraszek J, Vellinga J, Custers J, Bos R, Schuitemaker H, Wegmann F, Roozendaal R, Kuipers H, Zahn R. Booster vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S or an Omicron-adapted vaccine in pre-immune hamsters protects against Omicron BA.2. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:40. [PMID: 36927774 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00633-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the original outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, several rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have emerged. Here, we show that a single dose of Ad26.COV2.S (based on the Wuhan-Hu-1 spike variant) protects against the Gamma and Delta variants in naive hamsters, supporting the observed maintained vaccine efficacy in humans against these VOC. Adapted spike-based booster vaccines targeting Omicron variants have now been authorized in the absence of human efficacy data. We evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of Ad26.COV2.S.529 (encoding a stabilized Omicron BA.1 spike) in naive mice and in hamsters with pre-existing immunity to the Wuhan-Hu-1 spike. In naive mice, Ad26.COV2.S.529 elicited higher neutralizing antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, compared with Ad26.COV2.S. However, neutralizing titers against the SARS-CoV-2 B.1 (D614G) and Delta variants were lower after primary vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S.529 compared with Ad26.COV2.S. In contrast, we found comparable Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 neutralizing titers in hamsters with pre-existing Wuhan-Hu-1 spike immunity after vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S, Ad26.COV2.S.529 or a combination of the two vaccines. Moreover, all three vaccine modalities induced equivalent protection against Omicron BA.2 challenge in these animals. Overall, our data suggest that an Omicron BA.1-based booster in rodents does not improve immunogenicity and efficacy against Omicron BA.2 over an Ad26.COV2.S booster in a setting of pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
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10
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Chen H, Peng J, Wang T, Wen J, Chen S, Huang Y, Zhang Y. Counter-regulatory renin-angiotensin system in hypertension: Review and update in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 208:115370. [PMID: 36481346 PMCID: PMC9721294 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality and disability, with hypertension being the most prevalent risk factor. Excessive activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) under pathological conditions, leading to vascular remodeling and inflammation, is closely related to cardiovascular dysfunction. The counter-regulatory axis of the RAS consists of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin (1-7), angiotensin (1-9), alamandine, proto-oncogene Mas receptor, angiotensin II type-2 receptor and Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor member D. Each of these components has been shown to counteract the effects of the overactivated RAS. In this review, we summarize the latest insights into the complexity and interplay of the counter-regulatory RAS axis in hypertension, highlight the pathophysiological functions of ACE2, a multifunctional molecule linking hypertension and COVID-19, and discuss the function and therapeutic potential of targeting this counter-regulatory RAS axis to prevent and treat hypertension in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyin Chen
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiangyun Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China,Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan 528200, Guangdong, China
| | - Tengyao Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China,Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan 528200, Guangdong, China
| | - Jielu Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China,Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan 528200, Guangdong, China
| | - Sifan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China,Nanhai Translational Innovation Center of Precision Immunology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan 528200, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China,Corresponding authors
| | - Yang Zhang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong, China,Corresponding authors
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11
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Anderson CF, Wang Q, Stern D, Leonard EK, Sun B, Fergie KJ, Choi CY, Spangler JB, Villano J, Pekosz A, Brayton CF, Jia H, Cui H. Supramolecular filaments for concurrent ACE2 docking and enzymatic activity silencing enable coronavirus capture and infection prevention. Matter 2023; 6:583-604. [PMID: 36531610 PMCID: PMC9743467 DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2022.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses have historically precipitated global pandemics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) into devastating public health crises. Despite the virus's rapid rate of mutation, all SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are known to gain entry into host cells primarily through complexation with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Although ACE2 has potential as a druggable decoy to block viral entry, its clinical use is complicated by its essential biological role as a carboxypeptidase and hindered by its structural and chemical instability. Here we designed supramolecular filaments, called fACE2, that can silence ACE2's enzymatic activity and immobilize ACE2 to their surface through enzyme-substrate complexation. This docking strategy enables ACE2 to be effectively delivered in inhalable aerosols and improves its structural stability and functional preservation. fACE2 exhibits enhanced and prolonged inhibition of viral entry compared with ACE2 alone while mitigating lung injury in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb F Anderson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Qiong Wang
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - David Stern
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Elissa K Leonard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Boran Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Kyle J Fergie
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Chang-Yong Choi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jamie B Spangler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jason Villano
- Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cory F Brayton
- Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hongpeng Jia
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Honggang Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center for Nanomedicine, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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12
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Köchl K, Schopper T, Durmaz V, Parigger L, Singh A, Krassnigg A, Cespugli M, Wu W, Yang X, Zhang Y, Wang WWS, Selluski C, Zhao T, Zhang X, Bai C, Lin L, Hu Y, Xie Z, Zhang Z, Yan J, Zatloukal K, Gruber K, Steinkellner G, Gruber CC. Optimizing variant-specific therapeutic SARS-CoV-2 decoys using deep-learning-guided molecular dynamics simulations. Sci Rep 2023; 13:774. [PMID: 36641503 PMCID: PMC9840421 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27636-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of COVID-19 with a soluble version of ACE2 that binds to SARS-CoV-2 virions before they enter host cells is a promising approach, however it needs to be optimized and adapted to emerging viral variants. The computational workflow presented here consists of molecular dynamics simulations for spike RBD-hACE2 binding affinity assessments of multiple spike RBD/hACE2 variants and a novel convolutional neural network architecture working on pairs of voxelized force-fields for efficient search-space reduction. We identified hACE2-Fc K31W and multi-mutation variants as high-affinity candidates, which we validated in vitro with virus neutralization assays. We evaluated binding affinities of these ACE2 variants with the RBDs of Omicron BA.3, Omicron BA.4/BA.5, and Omicron BA.2.75 in silico. In addition, candidates produced in Nicotiana benthamiana, an expression organism for potential large-scale production, showed a 4.6-fold reduction in half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) compared with the same variant produced in CHO cells and an almost six-fold IC50 reduction compared with wild-type hACE2-Fc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Köchl
- Innophore GmbH, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Amit Singh
- Innophore GmbH, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Wei Wu
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Yang
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Yanchong Zhang
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Welson Wen-Shang Wang
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Crystal Selluski
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Tiehan Zhao
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Xin Zhang
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Caihong Bai
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Leon Lin
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Yuxiang Hu
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Zhiwei Xie
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Zaihui Zhang
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Jun Yan
- SignalChem Lifesciences Corp., 110-13120 Vanier Place, Richmond, BC, V6V 2J2, Canada
| | - Kurt Zatloukal
- Diagnostic- and Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Steinkellner
- Innophore GmbH, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Christian C Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria.
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13
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Matthews AM, Biel TG, Ortega-Rodriguez U, Falkowski VM, Bush X, Faison T, Xie H, Agarabi C, Rao VA, Ju T. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant binding affinity to an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 fusion glycoproteins. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278294. [PMID: 36472974 PMCID: PMC9725131 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, continues to evolve and circulate globally. Current prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures against Covid-19 infection include vaccines, small molecule drugs, and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 infection is mainly mediated by the viral spike glycoprotein binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells for viral entry. As emerging mutations in the spike protein evade efficacy of spike-targeted countermeasures, a potential strategy to counter SARS-CoV-2 infection is to competitively block the spike protein from binding to the host ACE2 using a soluble recombinant fusion protein that contains a human ACE2 and an IgG1-Fc domain (ACE2-Fc). Here, we have established Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines that stably express ACE2-Fc proteins in which the ACE2 domain either has or has no catalytic activity. The fusion proteins were produced and purified to partially characterize physicochemical properties and spike protein binding. Our results demonstrate the ACE2-Fc fusion proteins are heavily N-glycosylated, sensitive to thermal stress, and actively bind to five spike protein variants (parental, alpha, beta, delta, and omicron) with different affinity. Our data demonstrates a proof-of-concept production strategy for ACE2-Fc fusion glycoproteins that can bind to different spike protein variants to support the manufacture of potential alternative countermeasures for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M. Matthews
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas G. Biel
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Uriel Ortega-Rodriguez
- Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vincent M. Falkowski
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xin Bush
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Talia Faison
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hang Xie
- Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cyrus Agarabi
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - V. Ashutosh Rao
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tongzhong Ju
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Kim J, Jozic A, Mukherjee A, Nelson D, Chiem K, Khan MSR, Torrelles JB, Martinez‐Sobrido L, Sahay G. Rapid Generation of Circulating and Mucosal Decoy Human ACE2 using mRNA Nanotherapeutics for the Potential Treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022; 9:e2202556. [PMID: 36216580 PMCID: PMC9762296 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause lethal pulmonary damage in humans. It contains spike proteins on its envelope that bind to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) expressed on airway cells, enabling entry of the virus, and causing infection. The soluble form of hACE2 binds SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, prevents viral entry into target cells, and ameliorates lung injury; however, its short half-life limits therapeutic utilities. Here, synthetic mRNA is engineered to encode a soluble form of hACE2 (hsACE2) to prevent viral infection. A novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) is used for packaging and delivering mRNA to cells to produce hsACE2 proteins. Intravenously administered LNP delivers mRNA to hepatocytes, leading to the production of circulatory hsACE2 initiated within 2 h and sustained over several days. Inhaled LNP results in lung transfection and secretion of mucosal hsACE2 to lung epithelia, the primary site of entry and pathogenesis for SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, mRNA-generated hsACE2 binds to the receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein. Finally, hsACE2 effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and its pseudoviruses from infecting host cells. The proof of principle study shows that mRNA-based nanotherapeutics can be potentially deployed to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and open new treatment opportunities for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghwan Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of PharmacyRobertson Life Sciences BuildingOregon State UniversityPortlandOR97201USA
| | - Antony Jozic
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of PharmacyRobertson Life Sciences BuildingOregon State UniversityPortlandOR97201USA
| | - Anindit Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of PharmacyRobertson Life Sciences BuildingOregon State UniversityPortlandOR97201USA
| | - Dylan Nelson
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of PharmacyRobertson Life Sciences BuildingOregon State UniversityPortlandOR97201USA
- High‐Throughput Screening Services LaboratoryCollege of PharmacyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USA
| | - Kevin Chiem
- Disease Prevention and Interventionand Population Health ProgramsTexas Biomedical Research InstituteSan AntonioTX78227USA
| | - Md Siddiqur Rahman Khan
- Disease Prevention and Interventionand Population Health ProgramsTexas Biomedical Research InstituteSan AntonioTX78227USA
| | - Jordi B. Torrelles
- Disease Prevention and Interventionand Population Health ProgramsTexas Biomedical Research InstituteSan AntonioTX78227USA
| | - Luis Martinez‐Sobrido
- Disease Prevention and Interventionand Population Health ProgramsTexas Biomedical Research InstituteSan AntonioTX78227USA
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of PharmacyRobertson Life Sciences BuildingOregon State UniversityPortlandOR97201USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringRobertson Life Sciences BuildingOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOR97201USA
- Department of OphthalmologyCasey Eye InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOR97239USA
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15
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Devaux CA, Camoin-Jau L. An update on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 structure/functions, polymorphism, and duplicitous nature in the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019: Implications for vascular and coagulation disease associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1042200. [PMID: 36519165 PMCID: PMC9742611 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1042200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been known for many years that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a cell surface enzyme involved in the regulation of blood pressure. More recently, it was proven that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) interacts with ACE2 to enter susceptible human cells. This functional duality of ACE2 tends to explain why this molecule plays such an important role in the clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the very start of the pandemic, a publication from our Institute (entitled "ACE2 receptor polymorphism: susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, hypertension, multi-organ failure, and COVID-19 disease outcome"), was one of the first reviews linking COVID-19 to the duplicitous nature of ACE2. However, even given that COVID-19 pathophysiology may be driven by an imbalance in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), we were still far from understanding the complexity of the mechanisms which are controlled by ACE2 in different cell types. To gain insight into the physiopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is essential to consider the polymorphism and expression levels of the ACE2 gene (including its alternative isoforms). Over the past 2 years, an impressive amount of new results have come to shed light on the role of ACE2 in the pathophysiology of COVID-19, requiring us to update our analysis. Genetic linkage studies have been reported that highlight a relationship between ACE2 genetic variants and the risk of developing hypertension. Currently, many research efforts are being undertaken to understand the links between ACE2 polymorphism and the severity of COVID-19. In this review, we update the state of knowledge on the polymorphism of ACE2 and its consequences on the susceptibility of individuals to SARS-CoV-2. We also discuss the link between the increase of angiotensin II levels among SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and the development of a cytokine storm associated microvascular injury and obstructive thrombo-inflammatory syndrome, which represent the primary causes of severe forms of COVID-19 and lethality. Finally, we summarize the therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing the severe forms of COVID-19 that target ACE2. Changing paradigms may help improve patients' therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A. Devaux
- Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU–Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
| | - Laurence Camoin-Jau
- Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU–Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Laboratoire d’Hématologie, Hôpital de La Timone, APHM, Boulevard Jean-Moulin, Marseille, France
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16
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Dehghani J, Movafeghi A, Mathieu-Rivet E, Mati-Baouche N, Calbo S, Lerouge P, Bardor M. Microalgae as an Efficient Vehicle for the Production and Targeted Delivery of Therapeutic Glycoproteins against SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20110657. [PMID: 36354980 PMCID: PMC9698596 DOI: 10.3390/md20110657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome–Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect various human organs, including the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, and gastrointestinal ones. The virus is internalized into human cells by binding to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor through its spike protein (S-glycoprotein). As S-glycoprotein is required for the attachment and entry into the human target cells, it is the primary mediator of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. Currently, this glycoprotein has received considerable attention as a key component for the development of antiviral vaccines or biologics against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, since the ACE2 receptor constitutes the main entry route for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, its soluble form could be considered as a promising approach for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 infection (COVID-19). Both S-glycoprotein and ACE2 are highly glycosylated molecules containing 22 and 7 consensus N-glycosylation sites, respectively. The N-glycan structures attached to these specific sites are required for the folding, conformation, recycling, and biological activity of both glycoproteins. Thus far, recombinant S-glycoprotein and ACE2 have been produced primarily in mammalian cells, which is an expensive process. Therefore, benefiting from a cheaper cell-based biofactory would be a good value added to the development of cost-effective recombinant vaccines and biopharmaceuticals directed against COVID-19. To this end, efficient protein synthesis machinery and the ability to properly impose post-translational modifications make microalgae an eco-friendly platform for the production of pharmaceutical glycoproteins. Notably, several microalgae (e.g., Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliella bardawil, and Chlorella species) are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe human food. Because microalgal cells contain a rigid cell wall that could act as a natural encapsulation to protect the recombinant proteins from the aggressive environment of the stomach, this feature could be used for the rapid production and edible targeted delivery of S-glycoprotein and soluble ACE2 for the treatment/inhibition of SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we have reviewed the pathogenesis mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 and then highlighted the potential of microalgae for the treatment/inhibition of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Dehghani
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Ali Movafeghi
- Department of Plant, Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
| | - Elodie Mathieu-Rivet
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Narimane Mati-Baouche
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Sébastien Calbo
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Inserm U1234, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Patrice Lerouge
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Muriel Bardor
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, F-76000 Rouen, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-2-35-14-67-51
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17
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Obeng EM, Fianu I, Danquah MK. Multivalent ACE2 engineering-A promising pathway for advanced coronavirus nanomedicine development. Nano Today 2022; 46:101580. [PMID: 35942040 PMCID: PMC9350675 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The spread of coronavirus diseases has resulted in a clarion call to develop potent drugs and vaccines even as different strains appear beyond human prediction. An initial step that is integral to the viral entry into host cells results from an active-targeted interaction of the viral spike (S) proteins and the cell surface receptor, called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Thus, engineered ACE2 has been an interesting decoy inhibitor against emerging coronavirus infestation. This article discusses promising innovative ACE2 engineering pathways for current and emerging coronavirus therapeutic development. First, we provide a brief discussion of some ACE2-associated human coronaviruses and their cell invasion mechanism. Then, we describe and contrast the individual spike proteins and ACE2 receptor interactions, highlighting crucial hotspots across the ACE2-associated coronaviruses. Lastly, we address the importance of multivalency in ACE2 nanomedicine engineering and discuss novel approaches to develop and achieve multivalent therapeutic outcomes. Beyond coronaviruses, these approaches will serve as a paradigm to develop new and improved treatment technologies against pathogens that use ACE2 receptor for invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene M Obeng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Isaac Fianu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael K Danquah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
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18
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Vaz de Castro PAS, Jose PA, Simões E Silva AC. Interactions between the intrarenal dopaminergic and the renin-angiotensin systems in the control of systemic arterial pressure. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:1205-27. [PMID: 35979889 DOI: 10.1042/CS20220338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Systemic arterial hypertension is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the general population, being a risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. Although its pathogenesis is complex and still poorly understood, some systems appear to play major roles in its development. This review aims to update the current knowledge on the interaction of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and dopaminergic system in the development of hypertension, focusing on recent scientific hallmarks in the field. The intrarenal RAS, composed of several peptides and receptors, has a critical role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) and, consequently, the development of hypertension. The RAS is divided into two main intercommunicating axes: the classical axis, composed of angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensin II, and angiotensin type 1 receptor, and the ACE2/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas axis, which appears to modulate the effects of the classical axis. Dopamine and its receptors are also increasingly showing an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, as abnormalities in the intrarenal dopaminergic system impair the regulation of renal sodium transport, regardless of the affected dopamine receptor subtype. There are five dopamine receptors, which are divided into two major subtypes: the D1-like (D1R and D5R) and D2-like (D2R, D3R, and D4R) receptors. Mice deficient in any of the five dopamine receptor subtypes have increased BP. Intrarenal RAS and the dopaminergic system have complex interactions. The balance between both systems is essential to regulate the BP homeostasis, as alterations in the control of both can lead to hypertension.
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19
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Wines BD, Kurtovic L, Trist HM, Esparon S, Lopez E, Chappin K, Chan LJ, Mordant FL, Lee WS, Gherardin NA, Patel SK, Hartley GE, Pymm P, Cooney JP, Beeson JG, Godfrey DI, Burrell LM, van Zelm MC, Wheatley AK, Chung AW, Tham WH, Subbarao K, Kent SJ, Hogarth PM. Fc engineered ACE2-Fc is a potent multifunctional agent targeting SARS-CoV2. Front Immunol 2022; 13:889372. [PMID: 35967361 PMCID: PMC9369017 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.889372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Joining a function-enhanced Fc-portion of human IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 produces an antiviral decoy with strain transcending virus neutralizing activity. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and Fc-effector functions of ACE2-Fc decoy proteins, formatted with or without the ACE2 collectrin domain, were optimized by Fc-modification. The different Fc-modifications resulted in distinct effects on neutralization and effector functions. H429Y, a point mutation outside the binding sites for FcγRs or complement caused non-covalent oligomerization of the ACE2-Fc decoy proteins, abrogated FcγR interaction and enhanced SARS-CoV-2 neutralization. Another Fc mutation, H429F did not improve virus neutralization but resulted in increased C5b-C9 fixation and transformed ACE2-Fc to a potent mediator of complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) expressing cells. Furthermore, modification of the Fc-glycan enhanced cell activation via FcγRIIIa. These different immune profiles demonstrate the capacity of Fc-based agents to be engineered to optimize different mechanisms of protection for SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce D. Wines
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Liriye Kurtovic
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Halina M. Trist
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sandra Esparon
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ester Lopez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Klasina Chappin
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Li-Jin Chan
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Francesca L. Mordant
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wen Shi Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. Gherardin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sheila K. Patel
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gemma E. Hartley
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Phillip Pymm
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James P. Cooney
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - James G. Beeson
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton VIC, Australia
| | - Dale I. Godfrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Louise M. Burrell
- Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Menno C. van Zelm
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Central Clinical School, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Adam K. Wheatley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Amy W. Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- Infectious Diseases and Immune Defence Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kanta Subbarao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Australian Research Council Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - P. Mark Hogarth
- Immune therapies Laboratory, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: P. Mark Hogarth,
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20
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Norambuena-Soto I, Lopez-Crisosto C, Martinez-Bilbao J, Hernandez-Fuentes C, Parra V, Lavandero S, Chiong M. Angiotensin-(1-9) in hypertension. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115183. [PMID: 35870482 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin-(1-9) [Ang-(1-9)] is a peptide of the non-canonical renin-angiotensin system (RAS) synthesized from angiotensin I by the monopeptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2). Using osmotic minipumps, infusion of Ang-(1-9) consistently reduces blood pressure in several rat hypertension models. In these animals, hypertension-induced end-organ damage is also decreased. Several pieces of evidence suggest that Ang-(1-9) is the endogenous ligand that binds and activates the type-2 angiotensin II receptor (AT2R). Activation of AT2R triggers different tissue-specific signaling pathways. This phenomenon could be explained by the ability of AT2R to form different heterodimers with other G protein-coupled receptors. Because of the antihypertensive and protective effects of AT2R activation by Ang-(1-9), associated with a short half-life of RAS peptides, several synthetic AT2R agonists have been synthesized and assayed. Some of them, particularly CGP42112, C21 and novokinin, have demonstrated antihypertensive properties. Only two synthetic AT2R agonists, C21 and LP2-3, have been tested in clinical trials, but none of them like an antihypertensive. Therefore, Ang-(1-9) is a promising antihypertensive drug that reduces hypertension-induced end-organ damage. However, further research is required to translate this finding successfully to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Norambuena-Soto
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Lopez-Crisosto
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Martinez-Bilbao
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Hernandez-Fuentes
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Parra
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Network for the Study of High-lethality Cardiopulmonary Diseases (REECPAL), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergio Lavandero
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mario Chiong
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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21
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Matusewicz L, Golec M, Czogalla A, Kuliczkowski K, Konka A, Zembala-John J, Sikorski AF. COVID-19 therapies: do we see substantial progress? Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:42. [PMID: 35641916 PMCID: PMC9152818 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00341-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its spread all over the world is the cause of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has recently resulted in almost 400 million confirmed cases and 6 million deaths, not to mention unknown long-term or persistent side effects in convalescent individuals. In this short review, we discuss approaches to treat COVID-19 that are based on current knowledge of the mechanisms of viral cell receptor recognition, virus–host membrane fusion, and inhibition of viral RNA and viral assembly. Despite enormous progress in antiviral therapy and prevention, new effective therapies are still in great demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucyna Matusewicz
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, ul. F. Joliot Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marlena Golec
- Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10c, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Aleksander Czogalla
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, ul. F. Joliot Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kazimierz Kuliczkowski
- Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10c, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Adam Konka
- Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10c, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Joanna Zembala-John
- Chair and Department of Medicine and Environmental Epidemiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, H. Jordana 19, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.,Acellmed Ltd., M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10C, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Aleksander F Sikorski
- Research and Development Centre, Regional Specialist Hospital, Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-154, Wroclaw, Poland. .,Acellmed Ltd., M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10C, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.
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22
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Hassler L, Wysocki J, Gelarden I, Sharma I, Tomatsidou A, Ye M, Gula H, Nicolaescu V, Randall G, Pshenychnyi S, Khurram N, Kanwar Y, Missiakas D, Henkin J, Yeldandi A, Batlle D. A Novel Soluble ACE2 Protein Provides Lung and Kidney Protection in Mice Susceptible to Lethal SARS-CoV-2 Infection. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:1293-1307. [PMID: 35236774 PMCID: PMC9257820 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021091209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses full-length angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a main receptor to enter target cells. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the preclinical efficacy of a novel soluble ACE2 protein with increased duration of action and binding capacity in a lethal mouse model of COVID-19. Methods: A human soluble ACE2 variant fused with an albumin binding domain (ABD) was linked via a dimerization motif hinge-like 4-cysteine dodecapeptide (DDC) to improve binding capacity to SARS-CoV-2. This novel soluble ACE2 protein (ACE2 1-618-DDC-ABD) was then administered intranasally and intraperitoneally to mice prior to intranasal inoculation of SARS-CoV-2 and then for two additional days post viral inoculation. Results: Untreated animals became severely ill and all had to be humanely euthanized by day 6/7 and had pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage with mononuclear infiltrates. In contrast, all but one mouse infected with a lethal dose of SARS-CoV-2 that received ACE2-1-618-DDC-ABD survived. In the animals inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 that were untreated, viral titers were high in the lungs and brain but virus was absent in the kidneys. However, some untreated animals had variable degrees of kidney proximal tubular injury with increased NGAL and TUNEL staining indicating attenuation of the proximal tubular brush border. In contrast, viral titers in the lung and brain were reduced or non-detectable in mice that received ACE2 1-618 DDCABD, and the animals developed only moderate disease as assessed by a near-normal clinical score, minimal weight loss, and improved lung and kidney injury Conclusions: This study demonstrates the preclinical efficacy of a novel soluble ACE2 protein, termed ACE2 1- 618-DDC-ABD, in a lethal mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection that causes severe lung injury as well as variable degrees of moderate proximal tubular injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Hassler
- L Hassler, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Jan Wysocki
- J Wysocki, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Ian Gelarden
- I Gelarden, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Isha Sharma
- I Sharma, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Anastasia Tomatsidou
- A Tomatsidou, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Minghao Ye
- M Ye, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Haley Gula
- H Gula, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Vlad Nicolaescu
- V Nicolaescu, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Glenn Randall
- G Randall, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Sergii Pshenychnyi
- S Pshenychnyi, Recombinant Protein Production Core, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
| | - Nigar Khurram
- N Khurram, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Yashpal Kanwar
- Y Kanwar, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Dominique Missiakas
- D Missiakas, Department of Microbiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Jack Henkin
- J Henkin, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
| | - Anjana Yeldandi
- A Yeldandi, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Daniel Batlle
- D Batlle, Division of Nephrology/Hypertension, Department of Medicine and the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
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Xie X, Li J, Liu P, Wang M, Gao L, Wan F, Lv J, Zhang H, Jin J. Chimeric Fusion between Clostridium ramosum IgA Protease and IgG Fc Provides Long-lasting Clearance of IgA deposits in Mouse Models of IgA Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:918-935. [PMID: 35172987 PMCID: PMC9063903 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021030372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND IgA nephropathy is a common primary glomerulonephritis caused by mesangial deposition of poly-IgA complexes. The disease follows a variable course of clinical progression with a high risk of kidney failure. While no specific therapy is available, enzymatic strategies to clear IgA deposits are being considered for the treatment of rapidly progressive IgA nephropathy. METHODS We chose an IgA protease of commensal bacterium Clostridium ramosum, termed AK183, as the template for constructing a recombinant biologic. To extend the half-life in blood, we fused AK183 to the Fc segment of human IgG1. Activities of this Fc-AK183 fusion protein towards the cleavage and subsequent clearance of IgA were tested in mouse models. RESULTS First, we discovered an autocleavage activity of AK183 that separates the N-terminal protease from its C-terminal autotransporter β domain. Therefore, we grafted Fc to the N-terminus of AK183 and demonstrated its week-long enzymatic activity in mice. In addition, the proteolytic fragments of IgA generated in the reaction with Fc-AK183 were effectively removed from circulation via kidney filtration. The combined actions of Fc-AK183-mediated cleavage and subsequent renal clearance of IgA resulted in a lasting obliteration of blood IgA, as demonstrated in a human IgA-injection model and in a humanized α1KI transgenic model. Fc-AK183 was also able to remove chronic IgA and associated complement C3 deposits in the glomerulus. CONCLUSION We constructed a chimeric fusion of IgA protease with Fc and demonstrated its long-lasting efficacy as a promising targeted therapy for IgA nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinfang Xie
- X Xie, Department of Medicine-Nephrology and Hypertension, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Jingyi Li
- J Li, Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Pan Liu
- P Liu, Department of Medicine-Nephrology and Hypertension, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Manliu Wang
- M Wang, Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Gao
- L Gao, Department of Medicine-Nephrology and Hypertension, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Feng Wan
- F Wan, Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jicheng Lv
- J Lv, Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- H Zhang, Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Jin
- J Jin, Department of Medicine-Nephrology and Hypertension, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
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Liu H, Timko MP. Improving Protein Quantity and Quality—The Next Level of Plant Molecular Farming. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1326. [PMID: 35163249 PMCID: PMC8836236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants offer several unique advantages in the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals for humans and animals. Although numerous recombinant proteins have been expressed in plants, only a small fraction have been successfully put into use. The hugely distinct expression systems between plant and animal cells frequently cause insufficient yield of the recombinant proteins with poor or undesired activity. To overcome the issues that greatly constrain the development of plant-produced pharmaceuticals, great efforts have been made to improve expression systems and develop alternative strategies to increase both the quantity and quality of the recombinant proteins. Recent technological revolutions, such as targeted genome editing, deconstructed vectors, virus-like particles, and humanized glycosylation, have led to great advances in plant molecular farming to meet the industrial manufacturing and clinical application standards. In this review, we discuss the technological advances made in various plant expression platforms, with special focus on the upstream designs and milestone achievements in improving the yield and glycosylation of the plant-produced pharmaceutical proteins.
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Wang W, Feng S, Ye Z, Gao H, Lin J, Ouyang D. Prediction of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA vaccines by the machine learning algorithm. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 12:2950-2962. [PMID: 35755271 PMCID: PMC9214321 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) is commonly used to deliver mRNA vaccines. Currently, LNP optimization primarily relies on screening ionizable lipids by traditional experiments which consumes intensive cost and time. Current study attempts to apply computational methods to accelerate the LNP development for mRNA vaccines. Firstly, 325 data samples of mRNA vaccine LNP formulations with IgG titer were collected. The machine learning algorithm, lightGBM, was used to build a prediction model with good performance (R2 > 0.87). More importantly, the critical substructures of ionizable lipids in LNPs were identified by the algorithm, which well agreed with published results. The animal experimental results showed that LNP using DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3) as ionizable lipid with an N/P ratio at 6:1 induced higher efficiency in mice than LNP with SM-102, which was consistent with the model prediction. Molecular dynamic modeling further investigated the molecular mechanism of LNPs used in the experiment. The result showed that the lipid molecules aggregated to form LNPs, and mRNA molecules twined around the LNPs. In summary, the machine learning predictive model for LNP-based mRNA vaccines was first developed, validated by experiments, and further integrated with molecular modeling. The prediction model can be used for virtual screening of LNP formulations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Shuo Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhuyifan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Hanlu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Jinzhong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +853 88224514 (Defang Ouyang); +86 21 31246764 (Jinzhong Lin).
| | - Defang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +853 88224514 (Defang Ouyang); +86 21 31246764 (Jinzhong Lin).
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Babajani F, Kakavand A, Mohammadi H, Sharifi A, Zakeri S, Asadi S, Afshar ZM, Rahimi Z, Sayad B. COVID-19 and renin angiotensin aldosterone system: Pathogenesis and therapy. Health Sci Rep 2021; 4:e440. [PMID: 34869917 PMCID: PMC8596942 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds to the ACE2 component of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) and infects the human cells. The aims of the present review were to look at the role and alteration of the RAAS components in SARS-CoV-2 infection, therapeutic approaches, and clinical trials in this field. METHODS We surveyed the literature (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) till August 18, 2021, and 59 published papers regarding the components of the RAAS and their role and alterations in SARS-CoV-2 infection along with various COVID-19 therapies based on the RASS components were included in the study. RESULTS ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor inhibitors are agents that significantly enhance the ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) levels, which can be suggestive for their role as therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Beta-adrenergic blockers, which negatively regulate renin release from juxtaglomerular cells, and vitamin D, as a regulator of the RAAS and renin expression, are proposed therapeutics in the treatment of COVID-19. Some antihyperglycemic agents could be potentially protective against COVID-19-induced lung injury. Also, the inhibition of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of the transcription pathway as a potential treatment for COVID-19 has been suggested. Finally, resveratrol, an antioxidant that can suppress Ang II, has been suggested as an adjunct to other therapies. CONCLUSION Regarding the suggested potential therapies for COVID-19, there are many clinical trials whose results might change the treatment strategies of SARS-CoV-2 infection. So, the results of well-organized clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of the mentioned agents in the treatment of COVID-19 will be useful in the management and therapy of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Babajani
- Students Research CommitteeKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Atefeh Kakavand
- Students Research CommitteeKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Hossien Mohammadi
- Students Research CommitteeKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Armin Sharifi
- Students Research CommitteeKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Saba Zakeri
- Students Research CommitteeKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Soheila Asadi
- Department of Clinical BiochemistryKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Zeinab Mohseni Afshar
- Infectious Diseases Research CenterKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Zohreh Rahimi
- Department of Clinical BiochemistryKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
- Behavioral Research CenterKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
| | - Babak Sayad
- Infectious Diseases Research CenterKermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshahIran
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Coperchini F, Ricci G, Croce L, Denegri M, Ruggiero R, Villani L, Magri F, Chiovato L, Rotondi M. Modulation of ACE-2 mRNA by inflammatory cytokines in human thyroid cells: a pilot study. Endocrine 2021; 74:638-645. [PMID: 34224085 PMCID: PMC8256224 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-021-02807-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE-2) was demonstrated to be the receptor for cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 mRNA was identified in several human tissues and recently also in thyroid cells in vitro. PURPOSE Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the ACE-2 mRNA levels in human thyroid cells in primary cultures. METHODS Primary thyroid cell cultures were treated with IFN-γ and TNF-α alone or in combination for 24 h. ACE-2 mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. As a control, the levels of IFN-γ inducible chemokine (CXCL10) were measured in the respective cell culture supernatants. RESULTS The mean levels of ACE-2 mRNA increased after treatment with IFN-γ and TNF-α in all the thyroid cell preparations, while the combination treatment did not consistently synergically increase ACE-2-mRNA. At difference, CXCL10 was consistently increased by IFN-γ and synergically further increased by the combination treatment with IFN-γ + TNF-α, with respect to IFN-γ alone. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show that IFN-γ and, to a lesser extent TNF-α consistently increase ACE-2 mRNA levels in NHT primary cultures. More interestingly, the combined stimulation (proven to be effective according to the synergic effect registered for CXCL10) produces different responses in terms of ACE-2 mRNA modulation. These results would suggest that elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines could facilitate the entering of the virus in cells by further increasing ACE-2 expression and/or account for the different degree of severity of SARS-COV-2 infection. This hypothesis deserves to be confirmed by further specific studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Coperchini
- Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ricci
- Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Laura Croce
- Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Marco Denegri
- Unit of Molecular Cardiology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Rubina Ruggiero
- Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Laura Villani
- Unit of Pathology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Flavia Magri
- Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Luca Chiovato
- Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy.
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy.
| | - Mario Rotondi
- Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy
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Svilenov HL, Sacherl J, Reiter A, Wolff LS, Cheng CC, Stern M, Grass V, Feuerherd M, Wachs FP, Simonavicius N, Pippig S, Wolschin F, Keppler OT, Buchner J, Brockmeyer C, Protzer U. Picomolar inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by an engineered ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion protein. Antiviral Res 2021; 196:105197. [PMID: 34774603 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells after binding through its spike glycoprotein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Soluble ACE2 ectodomains bind and neutralize the virus, yet their short in vivo half-live limits their therapeutic use. This limitation can be overcome by fusing the fragment crystallizable (Fc) part of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the ACE2 ectodomain, but this bears the risk of Fc-receptor activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Here, we describe optimized ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion constructs that avoid Fc-receptor activation, preserve the desired ACE2 enzymatic activity and show promising pharmaceutical properties. The engineered ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion proteins neutralize the original SARS-CoV, pandemic SARS-CoV-2 as well as the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 alpha, beta and delta variants of concern. Importantly, these variants of concern are inhibited at picomolar concentrations proving that ACE2-IgG4 maintains - in contrast to therapeutic antibodies - its full antiviral potential. Thus, ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion proteins are promising candidate anti-antivirals to combat the current and future pandemics.
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29
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Chen F, Zhang Y, Li X, Li W, Liu X, Xue X. The Impact of ACE2 Polymorphisms on COVID-19 Disease: Susceptibility, Severity, and Therapy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:753721. [PMID: 34746028 PMCID: PMC8569405 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.753721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has currently spread worldwide, leading to high morbidity and mortality. As the putative receptor of SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is widely distributed in various tissues and organs of the human body. Simultaneously, ACE2 acts as the physiological counterbalance of ACE providing homeostatic regulation of circulating angiotensin II levels. Given that some ACE2 variants are known to cause an increase in the ligand-receptor affinity, their roles in acquisition, progression and severity of COVID-19 disease have aroused widespread concerns. Therefore, we summarized the latest literature and explored how ACE2 variants and epigenetic factors influence an individual’s susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcome in aspects of ethnicity, gender and age. Meanwhile, the possible mechanisms for these phenomena were discussed. Notably, recombinant human ACE2 and ACE2-derived peptides may have special benefits for combating SARS-CoV-2 variants and further studies are warranted to confirm their effects in later stages of the disease process. As the uncertainty regarding the severity and transmissibility of disease rises, a more in-depth understanding of the host genetics and functional characteristics of ACE2 variants will not only help explain individual clinical differences of the disease, but also contribute to providing effective measures to develop solutions and manage future outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Department of Physiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Yankun Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- Department of Physiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Physiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Physiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xinyu Xue
- Department of Physiology, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
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30
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Pucci F, Annoni F, dos Santos RAS, Taccone FS, Rooman M. Quantifying Renin-Angiotensin-System Alterations in COVID-19. Cells 2021; 10:2755. [PMID: 34685735 PMCID: PMC8535134 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in a wide series of physiological processes, among which inflammation and blood pressure regulation. One of its key components, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, has been identified as the entry point of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the host cells, and therefore a lot of research has been devoted to study RAS dysregulation in COVID-19. Here we discuss the alterations of the regulatory RAS axes due to SARS-CoV-2 infection on the basis of a series of recent clinical investigations and experimental analyzes quantifying, e.g., the levels and activity of RAS components. We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of these data in view of disentangling the links between the impaired RAS functioning and the pathophysiological characteristics of COVID-19. We also review the effects of several RAS-targeting drugs and how they could potentially help restore the normal RAS functionality and minimize the COVID-19 severity. Finally, we discuss the conflicting evidence found in the literature and the open questions on RAS dysregulation in SARS-CoV-2 infection whose resolution would improve our understanding of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Pucci
- 3BIO—Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
- (IB)—Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Filippo Annoni
- Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (F.A.); (F.S.T.)
| | | | - Fabio Silvio Taccone
- Department of Intensive Care, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (F.A.); (F.S.T.)
| | - Marianne Rooman
- 3BIO—Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
- (IB)—Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Liu P, Johnson SE, Xie X, Gao L, Haney CR, Zhao M, Jin J. Targeted design of a recombinant tracer for SPECT renal imaging. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:9118-9132. [PMID: 34522230 PMCID: PMC8419037 DOI: 10.7150/thno.60132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: A robust radiopharmaceutical has high uptake in the target and low retention in non-target tissues. However, traditional tracers for renal imaging that chemically chelate 99mTc are excreted through the renal route with transient resident time in the kidney. Following a rational design approach, we constructed a protein-based radiotracer, designated PBT-Fc, to sequentially bind tubular neonatal Fc-receptor and subsequently proximal tubular basement membrane for its targeted sequestration in kidney parenchyma. In this process, the tracer participates in physiologic glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption while escaping lysosomal catabolism and urinary clearance. Methods: To specifically target renal receptors in navigating the urinary passage in the kidney, we produced a recombinant fusion protein with two separate functional parts: a polybasic PBT segment derived from human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Fc segment of IgG1. The chimeric fusion of PBT-Fc was labeled with radionuclide 99mTc and tested in rodent models of kidney diseases. Planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) were performed to evaluate renal-specificity of the tracer. Results: When injected in mouse and rat, following a brief 10 - 15 min dynamic redistribution phase in circulation, ~ 95% of the [99mTc]-PBT-Fc signal was concentrated in the kidney and lasted for hours without urinary loss or surrounding tissue activities. Long-lasting tracer signals in the kidney cortex in conjunction with SPECT greatly augmented the image quality in detecting pathological lesions in a variety of disease models, including ischemic acute kidney injury, drug-induced renal toxicity, and chronic kidney disease from renin-angiotensin system (RAS) overactivation. Conclusion: Exclusive renal retention of the recombinant radiotracer greatly facilitated static-phase signal acquisition by SPECT and achieved submillimeter spatial resolution of kidney alternations in glomerular and tubular disease models.
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32
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Zhang Z, Zeng E, Zhang L, Wang W, Jin Y, Sun J, Huang S, Yin W, Dai J, Zhuang Z, Chen Z, Sun J, Zhu A, Li F, Cao W, Li X, Shi Y, Gan M, Zhang S, Wei P, Huang J, Zhong N, Zhong G, Zhao J, Wang Y, Shao W, Zhao J. Potent prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human ACE2-Fc against SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. Cell Discov 2021; 7:65. [PMID: 34385423 PMCID: PMC8359631 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-021-00302-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, poses a serious public health threat. Effective therapeutic and prophylactic treatments are urgently needed. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2, which binds to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Here, we developed recombinant human ACE2-Fc fusion protein (hACE2-Fc) and a hACE2-Fc mutant with reduced catalytic activity. hACE2-Fc and the hACE2-Fc mutant both efficiently blocked entry of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and HCoV-NL63 into hACE2-expressing cells and inhibited SARS-CoV-2 S protein-mediated cell-cell fusion. hACE2-Fc also neutralized various SARS-CoV-2 strains with enhanced infectivity including D614G and V367F mutations, as well as the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), B.1.617.1 (Kappa), and B.1.617.2 (Delta), demonstrating its potent and broad-spectrum antiviral effects. In addition, hACE2-Fc proteins protected HBE from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unlike RBD-targeting neutralizing antibodies, hACE2-Fc treatment did not induce the development of escape mutants. Furthermore, both prophylactic and therapeutic hACE2-Fc treatments effectively protected mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection, as determined by reduced viral replication, weight loss, histological changes, and inflammation in the lungs. The protection provided by hACE2 showed obvious dose-dependent efficacy in vivo. Pharmacokinetic data indicated that hACE2-Fc has a relative long half-life in vivo compared to soluble ACE2, which makes it an excellent candidate for prophylaxis and therapy for COVID-19 as well as for SARS-CoV and HCoV-NL63 infections.
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Grants
- This work is supported by the grants from The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1200100, 2018ZX10301403, 2020YFC0842400), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82025001), Ministries of Science and Technology, Education of Guangdong province (2020B1111330001, 2020A111128008, 2020B1111320003, 2020A0505100063, 2020KZDZX1158, B195001248, 2020A1515010911, 2019TX05Y120), National Key Technology R&D Program (2018YFC1311900), Guangdong Science and Technology Foundation (2019B030316028), Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health Open Project (Funds provided by China Evergrande Group, 2020GIRHHMS07 and 2020GIRHHMS07), State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease (SKLRD-QN-201912 and SKLRD-Z-202007), Guangzhou Medical University High-level University Innovation Team Training Program (Guangzhou Medical University released [2017] No.159).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Eric Zeng
- Nanjing Legend Biotech Co., Ltd, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiming Wang
- Nanjing GenScript Biotech Co., Ltd, NanJing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yingkang Jin
- Pediatric Pulmonary Department, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiye Sun
- Nanjing GenScript Biotech Co., Ltd, NanJing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuxiang Huang
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenguang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Dai
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Airu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weitao Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongxia Shi
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mian Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Peilan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jicheng Huang
- Guangzhou Customs District Technology Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Nanshan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guocai Zhong
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jingxian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yanqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Weihui Shao
- Nanjing GenScript Biotech Co., Ltd, NanJing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Institute of Infectious disease, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangzhou laboratory, Bio-island, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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33
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Castilho A, Schwestka J, Kienzl NF, Vavra U, Grünwald‐Gruber C, Izadi S, Hiremath C, Niederhöfer J, Laurent E, Monteil V, Mirazimi A, Wirnsberger G, Stadlmann J, Stöger E, Mach L, Strasser R. Generation of enzymatically competent SARS-CoV-2 decoy receptor ACE2-Fc in glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana. Biotechnol J 2021; 16:e2000566. [PMID: 33481336 PMCID: PMC7995010 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the primary host cell receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binding and cell entry. Administration of high concentrations of soluble ACE2 can be utilized as a decoy to block the interaction of the virus with cellular ACE2 receptors and potentially be used as a strategy for treatment or prevention of coronavirus disease 2019. Human ACE2 is heavily glycosylated and its glycans impact on binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and virus infectivity. Here, we describe the production of a recombinant soluble ACE2-fragment crystallizable (Fc) variant in glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana. Our data reveal that the produced dimeric ACE2-Fc variant is glycosylated with mainly complex human-type N-glycans and functional with regard to enzyme activity, affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain, and wild-type virus neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Castilho
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Jennifer Schwestka
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Nikolaus F. Kienzl
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Clemens Grünwald‐Gruber
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of BiochemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Shiva Izadi
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of BiotechnologyFaculty of AgricultureTarbiat Modares UniversityTehranIran
| | - Chaitra Hiremath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | | | - Elisabeth Laurent
- Department of Biotechnology and Core Facility Biomolecular & Cellular AnalysisUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Vanessa Monteil
- Department of Laboratory MedicineUnit of Clinical MicrobiologyKarolinska Institute and Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Ali Mirazimi
- Department of Laboratory MedicineUnit of Clinical MicrobiologyKarolinska Institute and Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | | | - Johannes Stadlmann
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of BiochemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Eva Stöger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Lukas Mach
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyInstitute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences ViennaViennaAustria
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34
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Zhao M, Su PY, Castro DA, Tripler TN, Hu Y, Cook M, Ko AI, Farhadian SF, Israelow B, Dela Cruz CS, Xiong Y, Sutton RE. Rapid, reliable, and reproducible cell fusion assay to quantify SARS-Cov-2 spike interaction with hACE2. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009683. [PMID: 34166473 PMCID: PMC8263067 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a global crisis of unimagined dimensions. Currently, Remedesivir is only fully licensed FDA therapeutic. A major target of the vaccine effort is the SARS-CoV-2 spike-hACE2 interaction, and assessment of efficacy relies on time consuming neutralization assay. Here, we developed a cell fusion assay based upon spike-hACE2 interaction. The system was tested by transient co-transfection of 293T cells, which demonstrated good correlation with standard spike pseudotyping for inhibition by sera and biologics. Then established stable cell lines were very well behaved and gave even better correlation with pseudotyping results, after a short, overnight co-incubation. Results with the stable cell fusion assay also correlated well with those of a live virus assay. In summary we have established a rapid, reliable, and reproducible cell fusion assay that will serve to complement the other neutralization assays currently in use, is easy to implement in most laboratories, and may serve as the basis for high throughput screens to identify inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 virus-cell binding and entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yi Su
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Danielle A. Castro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Therese N. Tripler
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yingxia Hu
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Matthew Cook
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Albert I. Ko
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Shelli F. Farhadian
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Israelow
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Charles S. Dela Cruz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yong Xiong
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Richard E. Sutton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Abstract
SARS coronavirus 2 is neutralized by proteins that block receptor-binding sites on spikes that project from the viral envelope. In particular, substantial research investment has advanced monoclonal antibody therapies to the clinic where they have shown partial efficacy in reducing viral burden and hospitalization. An alternative is to use the host entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as a soluble decoy that broadly blocks SARS-associated coronaviruses with limited potential for viral escape. Here, we summarize efforts to engineer higher affinity variants of soluble ACE2 that rival the potency of affinity-matured antibodies. Strategies have also been used to increase the valency of ACE2 decoys for avid spike interactions and to improve pharmacokinetics via IgG fusions. Finally, the intrinsic catalytic activity of ACE2 for the turnover of the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II may directly address COVID-19 symptoms and protect against lung and cardiovascular injury, conferring dual mechanisms of action unachievable by monoclonal antibodies. Soluble ACE2 derivatives therefore have the potential to be next generation therapeutics for addressing the immediate needs of the current pandemic and possible future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyang Jing
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Erik Procko
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Zhang X, Han P, Wang H, Xu Y, Li F, Li M, Fan L, Zhang H, Dai Q, Lin H, Qi X, Liang J, Wang X, Yang X. Engineering mesenchymal stromal cells with neutralizing and anti-inflammatory capability against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 21:754-764. [PMID: 34007862 PMCID: PMC8118700 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of the novel human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has markedly affected global health and the economy. Both uncontrolled viral replication and a proinflammatory cytokine storm can cause severe tissue damage in patients with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its entry receptor. In this study, we generated ACE2 extracellular domain-Fc and single-chain variable fragment-interleukin 6 (IL-6) single-chain variable fragment against IL-6 receptor (scFv-IL6R)-Fc fusion proteins to differentially neutralize viruses and ameliorate the cytokine storm. The human ACE2 (hACE2)1-740-Fc fusion protein showed a potent inhibitory effect on pseudo-typed SARS-CoV-2 entry and a good safety profile in mice. In addition, scFv-IL6R-Fc strongly blocked IL-6 signal activation. We also established a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based hACE21-740-Fc and scFv-IL6R-Fc delivery system, which could serve as a potential therapy strategy for urgent clinical needs of patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Zhang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ping Han
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Haiyong Wang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanqin Xu
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Fanlin Li
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Min Li
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lilv Fan
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huihui Zhang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qiang Dai
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hao Lin
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xinyue Qi
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Shanghai Longyao Biotechnology Limited, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xuanming Yang
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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37
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Dean AQ, Bozza WP, Twomey JD, Luo S, Nalli A, Zhang B. The fight against COVID-19: Striking a balance in the renin-angiotensin system. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:2214-2220. [PMID: 33865979 PMCID: PMC8049177 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters host cells by interacting with membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a vital element in the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), which regulates blood pressure, fluid balance, and cardiovascular functions. We herein evaluate existing evidence for the molecular alterations within the RAS pathway (e.g., ACE2 and angiotensin II) during SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This includes reports regarding potential effect of RAS blockade (e.g., ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers) on ACE2 expression and clinical outcomes in patients with co-morbidities commonly treated with these agents. The collective evidence suggests a dual role for ACE2 in COVID-19, depending on the stage of infection and the coexisting diseases in individual patients. This information is further discussed with respect to potential therapeutic strategies targeting RAS for COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Q Dean
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - William P Bozza
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Julianne D Twomey
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Shen Luo
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Ancy Nalli
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Baolin Zhang
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
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38
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Liu P, Xie X, Gao L, Jin J. His345 mutant of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) remains enzymatically active against angiotensin II. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2023648118. [PMID: 33833058 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023648118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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39
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Wysocki J, Ye M, Hassler L, Gupta AK, Wang Y, Nicoleascu V, Randall G, Wertheim JA, Batlle D. A Novel Soluble ACE2 Variant with Prolonged Duration of Action Neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Human Kidney Organoids. J Am Soc Nephrol 2021; 32:795-803. [PMID: 33526471 PMCID: PMC8017551 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2020101537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an urgent need for approaches to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Administration of soluble ACE2 protein acting as a decoy to bind to SARS-CoV-2 should limit viral uptake mediated by binding to membrane-bound full-length ACE2, and further therapeutic benefit should result from ensuring enzymatic ACE2 activity to affected organs in patients with COVID-19. METHODS A short variant of human soluble ACE2 protein consisting of 618 amino acids (hACE2 1-618) was generated and fused with an albumin binding domain (ABD) using an artificial gene encoding ABDCon, with improved albumin binding affinity. Human kidney organoids were used for infectivity studies of SARS-CoV-2 in a BSL-3 facility to examine the neutralizing effect of these novel ACE2 variants. RESULTS Whereas plasma ACE2 activity of the naked ACE2 1-618 and ACE2 1-740 lasted about 8 hours, the ACE2 1-618-ABD resulted in substantial activity at 96 hours, and it was still biologically active 3 days after injection. Human kidney organoids express ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and when infected with SARS-CoV-2, our modified long-acting ACE2 variant neutralized infection. CONCLUSIONS This novel ACE2 1-618-ABD can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in human kidney organoids, and its prolonged duration of action should ensure improved efficacy to prevent viral escape and dosing convenience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Wysocki
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Minghao Ye
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Luise Hassler
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ashwani Kumar Gupta
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Yuguo Wang
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Vlad Nicoleascu
- Department of Microbiology, Ricketts Laboratory, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Glenn Randall
- Department of Microbiology, Ricketts Laboratory, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jason A. Wertheim
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Daniel Batlle
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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40
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Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is sweeping the globe. Even with a number of effective vaccines being approved and available to the public, new cases and escalating mortality are climbing every day. ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) is the primary receptor for the COVID-19 causative virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its complexation with spike proteins plays a crucial role in viral entry into host cells and the subsequent infection. Blocking this binding event or reducing the accessibility of the virus to the ACE2 receptor, represents an alternative strategy to prevent COVID-19. In addition, the biological significance of ACE2 in modulating the innate immune system and tissue repair cascades and anchors its therapeutic potential for treating the infected patients. In this viewpoint article, we review the current efforts of exploiting ACE2 as a therapeutic target to address this dire medical need. We also provide a holistic view of the pros and cons of each treatment strategy. We highlight the fundamental and translational challenges in moving these research endeavors to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongpeng Jia
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery
| | - Enid Neptune
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine
| | - Honggang Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and
- Institute for Nano Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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41
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Li Q, Grant MB, Richards EM, Raizada MK. ACE2 as therapeutic agent. Clin Sci (Lond) 2020; 134:2581-95. [PMID: 33063820 DOI: 10.1042/CS20200570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has emerged as a critical regulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which plays important roles in cardiovascular homeostasis by regulating vascular tone, fluid and electrolyte balance. ACE2 functions as a carboxymonopeptidase hydrolyzing the cleavage of a single C-terminal residue from Angiotensin-II (Ang-II), the key peptide hormone of RAS, to form Angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)), which binds to the G-protein-coupled Mas receptor and activates signaling pathways that counteract the pathways activated by Ang-II. ACE2 is expressed in a variety of tissues and overwhelming evidence substantiates the beneficial effects of enhancing ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis under many pathological conditions in these tissues in experimental models. This review will provide a succinct overview on current strategies to enhance ACE2 as therapeutic agent, and discuss limitations and future challenges. ACE2 also has other functions, such as acting as a co-factor for amino acid transport and being exploited by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs) as cellular entry receptor, the implications of these functions in development of ACE2-based therapeutics will also be discussed.
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42
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Hassler L, Wysocki J, Gelarden I, Tomatsidou A, Gula H, Nicoleascu V, Randall G, Henkin J, Yeldandi A, Batlle D. A novel soluble ACE2 protein totally protects from lethal disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv 2021. [PMID: 33758841 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.12.435191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses full-length angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is membrane bound, as its initial cell contact receptor preceding viral entry. Here we report a human soluble ACE2 variant fused with a 5kD albumin binding domain (ABD) and bridged via a dimerization motif hinge-like 4-cysteine dodecapeptide, which we term ACE2 1-618-DDC-ABD. This protein is enzymatically active, has increased duration of action in vivo conferred by the ABD-tag, and displays 20-30-fold higher binding affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain than its des-DDC monomeric form (ACE2 1-618-ABD) due to DDC-linked dimerization. ACE2 1-618-DDC-ABD was administered for 3 consecutive days to transgenic k18-hACE2 mice, a model that develops lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection, to evaluate the preclinical preventative/ therapeutic value for COVID-19. Mice treated with ACE2 1-618-DDC-ABD developed a mild to moderate disease for the first few days assessed by a clinical score and modest weight loss. The untreated control animals, by contrast, became severely ill and had to be sacrificed by day 6/7 and lung histology revealed extensive pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage and mononuclear infiltrates. At 6 days, mortality was totally prevented in the treated group, lung histopathology was improved and viral titers markedly reduced. This demonstrates for the first time in vivo the preventative/ therapeutic potential of a novel soluble ACE2 protein in a preclinical animal model.
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43
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Heyman SN, Walther T, Abassi Z. Angiotensin-(1-7)-A Potential Remedy for AKI: Insights Derived from the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2021; 10:1200. [PMID: 33805760 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10061200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-bound angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) 2 serves as a receptor for the Sars-CoV-2 spike protein, permitting viral attachment to target host cells. The COVID-19 pandemic brought into light ACE2, its principal product angiotensin (Ang) 1-7, and the G protein-coupled receptor for the heptapeptide (MasR), which together form a still under-recognized arm of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). This axis counteracts vasoconstriction, inflammation and fibrosis, generated by the more familiar deleterious arm of RAS, including ACE, Ang II and the ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R). The COVID-19 disease is characterized by the depletion of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7), conceivably playing a central role in the devastating cytokine storm that characterizes this disorder. ACE2 repletion and the administration of Ang-(1-7) constitute the therapeutic options currently tested in the management of severe COVID-19 disease cases. Based on their beneficial effects, both ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) have also been suggested to slow the progression of experimental diabetic and hypertensive chronic kidney disease (CKD). Herein, we report a further step undertaken recently, utilizing this type of intervention in the management of evolving acute kidney injury (AKI), with the expectation of renal vasodilation and the attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, renal parenchymal damage and subsequent fibrosis. Most outcomes indicate that triggering the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis may be renoprotective in the setup of AKI. Yet, there is contradicting evidence that under certain conditions it may accelerate renal damage in CKD and AKI. The nature of these conflicting outcomes requires further elucidation.
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Tian X, Li C, Wu Y, Ying T. Insights into biological therapeutic strategies for COVID-19. Fundamental Research 2021. [PMCID: PMC7860937 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide pandemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in late December 2019 requires the urgent development of therapeutic options. So far, numerous studies have investigated and uncovered the underlying epidemiology and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infections in order to develop effective drugs. Compared with antiviral small-molecule inhibitors, biotherapeutics have unique advantages such as fewer side effects by virtue of their high specificity, and thus can be rapidly developed for promising treatments of COVID-19. Here, we summarize potential biotherapeutics and their mechanisms of action, including convalescent plasma, therapeutic antibodies, peptides, engineered ACE2, interferons, cytokine inhibitors, and RNAi-based therapeutics, and discuss in depth the advancements and precautions for each type of biotherapeutics in the treatment of COVID-19.
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Abstract
RATIONALE Glomerular capillaries are lined with a highly specialized fenestrated endothelium and contribute to the glomerular filtration barrier. The Notch signaling pathway is involved in regulation of glomerular filtration barrier, but its role in glomerular endothelium has not been investigated due to the embryonic lethality of animal models with genetic modification of Notch pathway components in the endothelium. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of aberrant activation of the Notch signaling in glomerular endothelium and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS We established the ZEG-NICD1 (notch1 intracellular domain)/Tie2-tTA/Tet-O-Cre transgenic mouse model to constitutively activate Notch1 signaling in endothelial cells of adult mice. The triple transgenic mice developed severe albuminuria with significantly decreased VE-cadherin (vascular endothelial cadherin) expression in the glomerular endothelium. In vitro studies showed that either NICD1 (Notch1 intracellular domain) lentiviral infection or treatment with Notch ligand DLL4 (delta-like ligand 4) markedly reduced VE-cadherin expression and increased monolayer permeability of human renal glomerular endothelial cells. In addition, Notch1 activation or gene knockdown of VE-cadherin reduced the glomerular endothelial glycocalyx. Further investigation demonstrated that activated Notch1 suppression of VE-cadherin was through the transcription factors SNAI1 (snail family transcriptional repressor 1) and ERG (Ets related gene), which bind to the -373 E-box and the -134/-118 ETS (E26 transformation-specific) element of the VE-cadherin promoter, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal novel regulatory mechanisms whereby endothelial Notch1 signaling dictates the level of VE-cadherin through the transcription factors SNAI1 and ERG, leading to dysfunction of glomerular filtration barrier and induction of albuminuria. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Li
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center (L.L., Q.L., J.L.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.,School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - Qiang Liu
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center (L.L., Q.L., J.L.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Tongyao Shang
- School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - Wei Song
- School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - Dongmei Xu
- Department of Nephrology (D.X.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Thaddeus D Allen
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Division, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (T.D.A., J.J., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics (T.D.A., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Tradewind BioScience, Daly City, California (T.D.A.)
| | - Xia Wang
- School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - James Jeong
- General Internal Medicine, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (J.J.)
| | - Corrinne G Lobe
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Division, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (T.D.A., J.J., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics (T.D.A., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ju Liu
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center (L.L., Q.L., J.L.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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Huang K, Lin M, Kuo T, Chen C, Lin C, Chou Y, Chao T, Pang Y, Kao H, Huang R, Lin S, Chang S, Yang P. Humanized COVID-19 decoy antibody effectively blocks viral entry and prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e12828. [PMID: 33159417 PMCID: PMC7799362 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To circumvent the devastating pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, a humanized decoy antibody (ACE2-Fc fusion protein) was designed to target the interaction between viral spike protein and its cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). First, we demonstrated that ACE2-Fc could specifically abrogate virus replication by blocking the entry of SARS-CoV-2 spike-expressing pseudotyped virus into both ACE2-expressing lung cells and lung organoids. The impairment of viral entry was not affected by virus variants, since efficient inhibition was also observed in six SARS-CoV-2 clinical strains, including the D614G variants which have been shown to exhibit increased infectivity. The preservation of peptidase activity also enables ACE2-Fc to reduce the angiotensin II-mediated cytokine cascade. Furthermore, this Fc domain of ACE2-Fc was shown to activate NK cell degranulation after co-incubation with Spike-expressing H1975 cells. These promising characteristics potentiate the therapeutic prospects of ACE2-Fc as an effective treatment for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo‐Yen Huang
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ming‐Shiu Lin
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ting‐Chun Kuo
- Department of Internal MedicineNational Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ci‐Ling Chen
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chung‐Chih Lin
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yu‐Chi Chou
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC)Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Tai‐Ling Chao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical BiotechnologyNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yu‐Hao Pang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical BiotechnologyNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Han‐Chieh Kao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical BiotechnologyNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Rih‐Sheng Huang
- Institute of Biological ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Steven Lin
- Institute of Biological ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Biochemical SciencesNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Sui‐Yuan Chang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical BiotechnologyNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Laboratory MedicineNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Pan‐Chyr Yang
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Internal MedicineNational Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
- Genomics Research CenterAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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Juraszek J, Rutten L, Blokland S, Bouchier P, Voorzaat R, Ritschel T, Bakkers MJG, Renault LLR, Langedijk JPM. Stabilizing the closed SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:244. [PMID: 33431842 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20321-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The trimeric spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is the primary focus of most vaccine design and development efforts. Due to intrinsic instability typical of class I fusion proteins, S tends to prematurely refold to the post-fusion conformation, compromising immunogenic properties and prefusion trimer yields. To support ongoing vaccine development efforts, we report the structure-based design of soluble S trimers with increased yields and stabilities, based on introduction of single point mutations and disulfide-bridges. We identify regions critical for stability: the heptad repeat region 1, the SD1 domain and position 614 in SD2. We combine a minimal selection of mostly interprotomeric mutations to create a stable S-closed variant with a 6.4-fold higher expression than the parental construct while no longer containing a heterologous trimerization domain. The cryo-EM structure reveals a correctly folded, predominantly closed pre-fusion conformation. Highly stable and well producing S protein and the increased understanding of S protein structure will support vaccine development and serological diagnostics. SARS-CoV-2 S protein prematurely refolds to the post-fusion conformation, compromising immunogenic properties and prefusion trimer yield. Here, Juraszek et al. present a stable SARS-CoV-2 S-closed protein variant with increased expression and correct folding, predominantly in closed prefusion conformation.
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Siriwattananon K, Manopwisedjaroen S, Kanjanasirirat P, Budi Purwono P, Rattanapisit K, Shanmugaraj B, Smith DR, Borwornpinyo S, Thitithanyanont A, Phoolcharoen W. Development of Plant-Produced Recombinant ACE2-Fc Fusion Protein as a Potential Therapeutic Agent Against SARS-CoV-2. Front Plant Sci 2021; 11:604663. [PMID: 33584747 PMCID: PMC7874119 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.604663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which has recently emerged as a potential threat to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 is the third known human coronavirus that has huge impact on the human population after SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Although some vaccines and therapeutic drugs are currently in clinical trials, none of them are approved for commercial use yet. As with SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the cell entry receptor to enter into the host cell. In this study, we have transiently produced human ACE2 fused with the Fc region of human IgG1 in Nicotiana benthamiana and the in vitro neutralization efficacy of the plant-produced ACE2-Fc fusion protein was assessed. The recombinant ACE2-Fc fusion protein was expressed in N. benthamiana at 100 μg/g leaf fresh weight on day 6 post-infiltration. The recombinant fusion protein showed potent binding to receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, the plant-produced fusion protein exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro. Treatment with ACE2-Fc fusion protein after viral infection dramatically inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in Vero cells with an IC50 value of 0.84 μg/ml. Moreover, treatment with ACE2-Fc fusion protein at the pre-entry stage suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection with an IC50 of 94.66 μg/ml. These findings put a spotlight on the plant-produced ACE2-Fc fusion protein as a potential therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konlavat Siriwattananon
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Priyo Budi Purwono
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Balamurugan Shanmugaraj
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Duncan R. Smith
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
| | - Suparerk Borwornpinyo
- Excellence Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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White I, Tamot N, Doddareddy R, Ho J, Jiao Q, Harvilla PB, Yang TY, Geist B, Borrok MJ, Truppo MD, Ganesan R, Chowdhury P, Zwolak A. Bifunctional molecules targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike and the polymeric Ig receptor display neutralization activity and mucosal enrichment. MAbs 2021; 13:1987180. [PMID: 34693867 PMCID: PMC8547864 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1987180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The global health crisis and economic tolls of COVID-19 necessitate a panoply of strategies to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. To date, few treatment options exist, although neutralizing antibodies against the spike glycoprotein have proven to be effective. Because infection is initiated at the mucosa and propagates mainly at this site throughout the course of the disease, blocking the virus at the mucosal milieu should be effective. However, administration of biologics to the mucosa presents a substantial challenge. Here, we describe bifunctional molecules combining single-domain variable regions that bind to the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) and to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via addition of the ACE2 extracellular domain (ECD). The hypothesis behind this design is that pIgR will transport the molecule from the circulation to the mucosal surface where the ACE ECD would act as a decoy receptor for the nCoV2. The bifunctional molecules bind SARS-Cov-2 spike glycoprotein in vitro and efficiently transcytose across the lung epithelium in human tissue-based analyses. Designs featuring ACE2 tethered to the C-terminus of the Fc do not induce antibody-dependent cytotoxicity against pIgR-expressing cells. These molecules thus represent a potential therapeutic modality for systemic administration of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 molecules to the mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian White
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Ninkka Tamot
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | | | - Jason Ho
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Qun Jiao
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | | | - Tong-Yuan Yang
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Brian Geist
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - M. Jack Borrok
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Matthew D. Truppo
- Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Development, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
| | - Rajkumar Ganesan
- Biologics Discovery, Alector, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Adam Zwolak
- Janssen Biotherapeutics, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, PA, USA
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Marquez A, Wysocki J, Pandit J, Batlle D. An update on ACE2 amplification and its therapeutic potential. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2021; 231:e13513. [PMID: 32469114 PMCID: PMC7267104 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [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] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of variety of diseases. Targeting the formation and action of angiotensin II (Ang II), the main RAS peptide, has been the key therapeutic target for last three decades. ACE‐related carboxypeptidase (ACE2), a monocarboxypeptidase that had been discovered 20 years ago, is one of the catalytically most potent enzymes known to degrade Ang II to Ang‐(1‐7), a peptide that is increasingly accepted to have organ‐protective properties that oppose and counterbalance those of Ang II. In addition to its role as a RAS enzyme ACE2 is the main receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2. In this review, we discuss various strategies that have been used to achieve amplification of ACE2 activity including the potential therapeutic potential of soluble recombinant ACE2 protein and novel shorter ACE2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Marquez
- Feinberg Medical SchoolNorthwestern University Chicago IL USA
- Department of Medicine Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Chicago IL USA
| | - Jan Wysocki
- Feinberg Medical SchoolNorthwestern University Chicago IL USA
- Department of Medicine Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Chicago IL USA
| | - Jay Pandit
- Feinberg Medical SchoolNorthwestern University Chicago IL USA
- Department of Medicine Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Chicago IL USA
| | - Daniel Batlle
- Feinberg Medical SchoolNorthwestern University Chicago IL USA
- Department of Medicine Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Chicago IL USA
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