Small molecule screening identified cepharanthine as an inhibitor of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in vitro by suppressing integrins/ILK/RACK1/PKCα/NF-κB signalling axis

Cepharanthine: A promising natural compound against feline infectious peritonitis virus infection and associated inflammation

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease in cats caused by feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), has limited treatment options and lacks effective vaccines. Cepharanthine (CEP), a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses many medicinal properties, including antiviral activities. However, the role of CEP in management of FIPV infection remains poorly understood. Here, we identified that CEP had a potent ability to inhibit FIPV infection in vitro. CEP significantly inhibited FIPV infection when administered at different times, with co-treatment showing the most significant inhibitory effect. Time-of-addition assays demonstrated that CEP exerted antiviral activity during the post-entry stages of the FIPV infection. We also verified that CEP inhibited FIPV infection not through affecting type I interferon expression, and it could decrease pro-inflammatory factors expression induced by FIPV infection. The combination of CEP and GS-441524 exhibited synergistic antiviral effects against FIPV infection. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of CEP for treatment of FIP.

RACK1 promotes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in Marc-145 cells through ERK1/2 activation

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an acute infectious disease that spreads rapidly among pigs and seriously threatens the pig industry. Activation of ERK1/2 is a hallmark of most viral infections. RACK1 interacts with a variety of kinases and membrane receptors that closely associated with viral infections and the development and progression of cancer. However, no studies have clearly defined whether RACK1 can regulate PRRSV infection through ERK1/2 activation. In our study, using RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, indirect fluorescent staining, siRNA knockdown and protein overexpression techniques, we found that downregulation of cellular RACK1 inhibited ERK1/2 activation and subsequently suppressed PRRSV infection, while overexpression of RACK1 enhanced ERK1/2 activation and PRRSV infection. Bioinformatic and Co-immunoprecipitation experimental analysis revealed that cellular RACK1 could interact with viral N protein to exert its function. We elaborated that RACK1 promoted PRRSV replication in Marc-145 cells through ERK1/2 activation. Our study provides new insights into regulating the innate antiviral immune responses during PRRSV infection and contributes to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PRRSV replication.

Long non-coding RNA LOC103222771 promotes infection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Marc-145 cells by downregulating Claudin-4

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an important swine disease caused by infection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which leads to huge loss in swine industry. How to effectively control PRRS is challenging. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are key regulator of viral infections and anti-virus immunological responses, therefore, further understanding of lncRNAs will aid to identification of novel regulators of viral infections and better design of prevention and control strategies to viral infection related diseases and immune disorders. We demonstrated that PRRSV infection upregulated the expression of lncRNA LOC103222771 in Marc-145 cells and porcine alveolar macrophage cells (PAMs) and that LOC103222771 is mainly located in cytoplasm. Knockdown of LOC103222771 could inhibit the PRRSV infection in Marc-145 cells. RNA-seq analysis and subsequent validation revealed increased expression of Claudin-4 (CLDN4) in Marc-145 when LOC103222771 was specifically downregulated，suggesting that LOC103222771 might be an upstream regulator of CLDN4, an important component of tight junctions for establishment of the paracellular barrier that controls the flow of molecules in the intercellular space between epithelial cells. We and others showed that Downregulation of CLDN4 could boost the infection of PRRSV. Collectively, LOC103222771/CLDN4 signal axis might be a novel mechanism of PRRSV pathogenesis, implying a potential therapeutic target against PRRSV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus regulates lipid droplet accumulation in lipid metabolic pathways to promote viral replication

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a severe respiratory disease caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) that can lead to the abortion of pregnant sows and decreased boar semen quality. However, the mechanisms of PRRSV replication in the host have not yet been fully elucidated. As lipid metabolism and lipid droplets (LDs) have been reported to play important roles in the replication of various viruses, we aimed to explore the mechanisms through which LDs affect PRRSV replication. Laser confocal and transmission electron microscopy revealed that PRRSV infection promoted intracellular LD accumulation, which was significantly reduced by treatment with the NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitors BAY11-7082 and metformin hydrochloride (MH). In addition, treatment with a DGAT1 inhibitor significantly reduced the protein expression of Phosphorylated NF-ΚB P65and PIκB and the transcription of IL-1β and IL-8 in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, we showed that the reduction of the NF-κB signaling pathway and LDs significantly reduced PRRSV replication. Together, the findings of this study suggest a novel mechanism through which PRRSV regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway to increase LD accumulation and promote viral replication. Moreover, we demonstrated that both BAY11-7082 and MH can reduce PRRSV replication by reducing the NF-κB signaling pathway and LD accumulation. This study lays a theoretical foundation for research on the mechanism of PRRS prevention and control, as well as the research and development of antiviral drugs.

The brief overview, antivirus and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, quantitative methods, and pharmacokinetics of cepharanthine: a potential small-molecule drug against COVID-19

To effectively respond to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an increasing number of researchers are focusing on the antiviral activity of cepharanthine (CEP), which is a clinically approved drug being used for over 70 years. This review aims to provide a brief overview of CEP and summarize its recent findings in quantitative analysis, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic potential, and mechanism in antiviral and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Given its remarkable capacity against SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo, with its primary target organ being the lungs, and its good pharmacokinetic profile; mature and stable manufacturing technique; and its advantages of safety, effectiveness, and accessibility, CEP has become a promising drug candidate for treating COVID-19 despite being an old drug.

Pharmacological Activity of Cepharanthine

Cepharanthine, a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloid isolated from the plant Stephania Cephalantha Hayata, is the only bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid approved for human use and has been used in the clinic for more than 70 years. Cepharanthine has a variety of medicinal properties, including signaling pathway inhibitory activities, immunomodulatory activities, and antiviral activities. Recently, cepharanthine has been confirmed to greatly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we aimed to describe the pharmacological properties and mechanisms of cepharanthine, mainly including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogen activities, inhibition of bone resorption, treatment of alopecia, treatment of snake bite, and other activities. At the same time, we analyzed and summarized the potential antiviral mechanism of cepharanthine and concluded that one of the most important anti-viral mechanisms of cepharanthine may be the stability of plasma membrane fluidity. Additionally, we explained its safety and bioavailability, which provides evidence for cepharanthine as a potential drug for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Finally, we further discuss the potential new clinical applications of cepharanthine and provide direction for its future development.

Role of the receptor for activated C kinase 1 during viral infection

Viruses can survive only in living cells, where they depend on the host's enzymatic system for survival and reproduction. Virus-host interactions are complex. On the one hand, hosts express host-restricted factors to protect the host cells from viral infections. On the other hand, viruses recruit certain host factors to facilitate their survival and transmission. The identification of host factors critical to viral infection is essential for comprehending the pathogenesis of contagion and developing novel antiviral therapies that specifically target the host. Receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), an evolutionarily conserved host factor that exists in various eukaryotic organisms, is a promising target for antiviral therapy. This review primarily summarizes the roles of RACK1 in regulating different viral life stages, particularly entry, replication, translation, and release.

Advances in the development of therapeutic strategies against COVID-19 and perspectives in the drug design for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

Since Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in late 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged public health around the world. Currently, there is an urgent need to explore antiviral therapeutic targets and effective clinical drugs. In this study, we systematically summarized two main therapeutic strategies against COVID-19, namely drugs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle and SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation in host cells. The development of above two strategies is implemented by repurposing drugs and exploring potential targets. A comprehensive summary of promising drugs, especially cytokine inhibitors, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), provides recommendations for clinicians as evidence-based medicine in the actual clinical COVID-19 treatment. Considering the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants greatly impact the effectiveness of drugs and vaccines, we reviewed the appearance and details of SARS-CoV-2 variants for further perspectives in drug design, which brings updating clues to develop therapeutical agents against the variants. Based on this, the development of broadly antiviral drugs, combined with immunomodulatory, or holistic therapy in the host, is prior to being considered for therapeutic interventions on mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is highly acclaimed the requirements of the concerted efforts from multi-disciplinary basic studies and clinical trials, which improves the accurate treatment of COVID-19 and optimizes the contingency measures to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Classical swine fever virus infection suppresses claudin-1 expression to facilitate its replication in PK-15 cells

Classical swine fever (CSF) is one of the most epidemic viral diseases in swine industry. The causative pathogen is CSF virus (CSFV), a small enveloped RNA virus of Flaviviridae family. Claudin-1 was reported to be involved in the infections of a number of viruses, including many from Flaviviridae family, but no studies have investigated the role of porcine claudin-1 during CSFV infection in PK-15 cells. In this study, on the one hand, we demonstrated that CSFV infection reduced the claudin-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels; on the other hand, CSFV infection was enhanced after claudin-1 knockdown, but inhibited by claudin-1 overexpression in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, negative correlation was demonstrated between the claudin-1 expression and CSFV titer. In conclusion, claudin-1 might be a barrier for CSFV infection in PK-15 cells, while CSFV bypasses the barrier through lysosome mediated degradation of claudin-1, which could be repressed by bafilomycin A1. Although the elaborate mechanisms how claudin-1 plays its roles in CSFV infection require further investigations, this study may advance our understanding of the molecular host-pathogen interaction mechanisms underlying CSFV infection and suggests enhancement of porcine claudin-1 as a potential preventive or therapeutic strategy for CSF control.