1
|
Kim HY, Jeong KM, Kim SH, Choi YJ, Kang HG, Jung H, Min K, Kim HM, Jeong HJ. Modulating effect of Eunkyo-san on expression of inflammatory cytokines and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in human mast cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2024; 60:195-208. [PMID: 38228999 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-024-00847-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Eunkyo-san is widely used in the treatment of severe respiratory infections. Mast cells not only serve as host cells for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but also they also exacerbate Coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) by causing a cytokine storm. Here we investigated whether Eunkyo-san and its active compound naringenin regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines and factors connected to viral infection in activated human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. Eunkyo-san and naringenin significantly reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and tumor necrosis factor-α without impacting cytotoxicity. Eunkyo-san and naringenin reduced levels of factors connected to SARS-CoV-2 infection such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2, SARS-CoV-2 receptor), transmembrane protease/serine subfamily member 2, and tryptase in activated HMC-1 cells. Treatment with Eunkyo-san and naringenin considerably reduced expression levels of ACE2 transcription factor, AP-1 (C-JUN and C-FOS) by blocking phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases signaling pathways. In addition, Eunkyo-san and naringenin effectively suppressed activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB, and activation of caspase-1 in activated HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, Eunkyo-san and naringenin reduced expression of ACE2 mRNA in two activated mast cell lines, RBL-2H3 and IC-2 cells. The overall study findings showed that Eunkyo-san diminished the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and ACE2, and these findings imply that Eunkyo-san is able to effectively mitigating the cytokine storm brought on by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Yun Kim
- Biochip Research Center, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Min Jeong
- Division of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hwan Kim
- Division of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Jin Choi
- Division of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Geun Kang
- Department of Bio-Convergence System, Graduate School, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanchul Jung
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyunghwon Min
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Min Kim
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun-Ja Jeong
- Biochip Research Center, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Bio-Convergence System, Graduate School, Hoseo University, Asan, 31499, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lynch C, Sakamuru S, Ooka M, Huang R, Klumpp-Thomas C, Shinn P, Gerhold D, Rossoshek A, Michael S, Casey W, Santillo MF, Fitzpatrick S, Thomas RS, Simeonov A, Xia M. High-Throughput Screening to Advance In Vitro Toxicology: Accomplishments, Challenges, and Future Directions. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 64:191-209. [PMID: 37506331 PMCID: PMC10822017 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-112122-104310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, chemical toxicity is determined by in vivo animal studies, which are low throughput, expensive, and sometimes fail to predict compound toxicity in humans. Due to the increasing number of chemicals in use and the high rate of drug candidate failure due to toxicity, it is imperative to develop in vitro, high-throughput screening methods to determine toxicity. The Tox21 program, a unique research consortium of federal public health agencies, was established to address and identify toxicity concerns in a high-throughput, concentration-responsive manner using a battery of in vitro assays. In this article, we review the advancements in high-throughput robotic screening methodology and informatics processes to enable the generation of toxicological data, and their impact on the field; further, we discuss the future of assessing environmental toxicity utilizing efficient and scalable methods that better represent the corresponding biological and toxicodynamic processes in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Lynch
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Srilatha Sakamuru
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Masato Ooka
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Carleen Klumpp-Thomas
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Paul Shinn
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - David Gerhold
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Anna Rossoshek
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Sam Michael
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Warren Casey
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael F Santillo
- Division of Toxicology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Suzanne Fitzpatrick
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Russell S Thomas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| | - Menghang Xia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lin L, Zhao Y, Zheng Q, Zhang J, Li H, Wu W. Epigenetic targeting of autophagy for cancer: DNA and RNA methylation. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1290330. [PMID: 38148841 PMCID: PMC10749975 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1290330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, a crucial cellular mechanism responsible for degradation and recycling of intracellular components, is modulated by an intricate network of molecular signals. Its paradoxical involvement in oncogenesis, acting as both a tumor suppressor and promoter, has been underscored in recent studies. Central to this regulatory network are the epigenetic modifications of DNA and RNA methylation, notably the presence of N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) in genomic DNA and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in eukaryotic mRNA. The 6mA modification in genomic DNA adds an extra dimension of epigenetic regulation, potentially impacting the transcriptional dynamics of genes linked to autophagy and, especially, cancer. Conversely, m6A modification, governed by methyltransferases and demethylases, influences mRNA stability, processing, and translation, affecting genes central to autophagic pathways. As we delve deeper into the complexities of autophagy regulation, the importance of these methylation modifications grows more evident. The interplay of 6mA, m6A, and autophagy points to a layered regulatory mechanism, illuminating cellular reactions to a range of conditions. This review delves into the nexus between DNA 6mA and RNA m6A methylation and their influence on autophagy in cancer contexts. By closely examining these epigenetic markers, we underscore their promise as therapeutic avenues, suggesting novel approaches for cancer intervention through autophagy modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luobin Lin
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuntao Zhao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qinzhou Zheng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiayang Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huaqin Li
- School of Health Sciences, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenmei Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pereira EPV, da Silva Felipe SM, de Freitas RM, da Cruz Freire JE, Oliveira AER, Canabrava N, Soares PM, van Tilburg MF, Guedes MIF, Grueter CE, Ceccatto VM. Transcriptional Profiling of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Calu-3 Cells Reveals Immune-Related Signaling Pathways. Pathogens 2023; 12:1373. [PMID: 38003837 PMCID: PMC10674242 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a pandemic that infected millions of people and caused significant deaths. COVID-19 continues to be a major threat, and there is a need to deepen our understanding of the virus and its mechanisms of infection. To study the cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we performed an RNA sequencing of infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells. Total RNA was extracted from infected (0.5 MOI) and control Calu-3 cells and converted to cDNA. Sequencing was performed, and the obtained reads were quality-analyzed and pre-processed. Differential expression was assessed with the EdgeR package, and functional enrichment was performed in EnrichR for Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, and WikiPathways. A total of 1040 differentially expressed genes were found in infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells, of which 695 were up-regulated and 345 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the predominant up-regulation of genes related to innate immune response, response to virus, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. These transcriptional changes following SARS-CoV-2 infection may reflect a cellular response to the infection and help to elucidate COVID-19 pathogenesis, in addition to revealing potential biomarkers and drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Petterson Viana Pereira
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Stela Mirla da Silva Felipe
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Raquel Martins de Freitas
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - José Ednésio da Cruz Freire
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | | | - Natália Canabrava
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Paula Matias Soares
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Mauricio Fraga van Tilburg
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Maria Izabel Florindo Guedes
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Chad Eric Grueter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Vânia Marilande Ceccatto
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shariq M, Malik AA, Sheikh JA, Hasnain SE, Ehtesham NZ. Regulation of autophagy by SARS-CoV-2: The multifunctional contributions of ORF3a. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28959. [PMID: 37485696 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-2) regulates autophagic flux by blocking the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes, causing the accumulation of membranous vesicles for replication. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins regulate autophagy with significant roles attributed to ORF3a. Mechanistically, open reading frame 3a (ORF3a) forms a complex with UV radiation resistance associated, regulating the functions of the PIK3C3-1 and PIK3C3-2 lipid kinase complexes, thereby modulating autophagosome biogenesis. ORF3a sequesters VPS39 onto the late endosome/lysosome, inhibiting assembly of the soluble NSF attachement protein REceptor (SNARE) complex and preventing autolysosome formation. ORF3a promotes the interaction between BECN1 and HMGB1, inducing the assembly of PIK3CA kinases into the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) and activating reticulophagy, proinflammatory responses, and ER stress. ORF3a recruits BORCS6 and ARL8B to lysosomes, initiating the anterograde transport of the virus to the plasma membrane. ORF3a also activates the SNARE complex (STX4-SNAP23-VAMP7), inducing fusion of lysosomes with the plasma membrane for viral egress. These mechanistic details can provide multiple targets for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 by developing host- or host-pathogen interface-based therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Shariq
- Inflammation Biology and Cell Signalling Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, India
| | - Asrar A Malik
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Javaid A Sheikh
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Seyed E Hasnain
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India
| | - Nasreen Z Ehtesham
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang R, Sun C, Han Y, Huang L, Sheng H, Wang J, Zhang Y, Lai J, Yuan J, Chen X, Jiang C, Wu F, Wang J, Fan X, Wang J. Neutrophil autophagy and NETosis in COVID-19: perspectives. Autophagy 2023; 19:758-767. [PMID: 35951555 PMCID: PMC9980466 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2099206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial losses worldwide in people's lives, health, and property. Currently, COVID-19 is still prominent worldwide without any specific drug treatment. The SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is the cause of various systemic diseases, mainly acute pneumonia. Within the pathological process, neutrophils are recruited to infected sites, especially in the lungs, for the first stage of removing invading SARS-CoV-2 through a range of mechanisms. Macroautophagy/autophagy, a conserved autodegradation process in neutrophils, plays a crucial role in the neutrophil phagocytosis of pathogens. NETosis refers to neutrophil cell death, while auto-inflammatory factors and antigens release NETs. This review summarizes the latest research progress and provides an in-depth explanation of the underlying mechanisms of autophagy and NETosis in COVID-19. Furthermore, after exploring the relationship between autophagy and NETosis, we discuss potential targets and treatment options. This review keeps up with the latest research on COVID-19 from neutrophil autophagy and NETosis with a new perspective, which can guide the urgent development of antiviral drugs and provide guidance for the clinical treatment of COVID-19.Abbreviations: AKT1: AKT serine/threonine kinase 1; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; AP: autophagosome; ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome; ATG: autophagy related; BECN1: beclin 1; cfDNA: cell-free DNA; COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; CQ: chloroquine; DMVs: double-membrane vesicles; ELANE/NE: elastase, neutrophil expressed; F3: coagulation factor III, tissue factor; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain of 3; MPO: myeloperoxidase; MTORC1: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1; NETs: neutrophil traps; NSP: nonstructural protein; PI3K: class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SKP2: S-phase kinase associated protein 2; TCC: terminal complement complex; ULK1: unc-51 like.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Zhang
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Chen Sun
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yunze Han
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Leo Huang
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Honghui Sheng
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Yuqing Zhang
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Jonathan Lai
- Premed track majoring in Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Jiahao Yuan
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Chao Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Fuyuan Wu
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Junmin Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Xiaochong Fan
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pain Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chechetkin VR, Lobzin VV. Evolving ribonucleocapsid assembly/packaging signals in the genomes of the human and animal coronaviruses: targeting, transmission and evolution. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:11239-11263. [PMID: 34338591 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1958061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A world-wide COVID-19 pandemic intensified strongly the studies of molecular mechanisms related to the coronaviruses. The origin of coronaviruses and the risks of human-to-human, animal-to-human and human-to-animal transmission of coronaviral infections can be understood only on a broader evolutionary level by detailed comparative studies. In this paper, we studied ribonucleocapsid assembly-packaging signals (RNAPS) in the genomes of all seven known pathogenic human coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63 and compared them with RNAPS in the genomes of the related animal coronaviruses including SARS-Bat-CoV, MERS-Camel-CoV, MHV, Bat-CoV MOP1, TGEV and one of camel alphacoronaviruses. RNAPS in the genomes of coronaviruses were evolved due to weakly specific interactions between genomic RNA and N proteins in helical nucleocapsids. Combining transitional genome mapping and Jaccard correlation coefficients allows us to perform the analysis directly in terms of underlying motifs distributed over the genome. In all coronaviruses, RNAPS were distributed quasi-periodically over the genome with the period about 54 nt biased to 57 nt and to 51 nt for the genomes longer and shorter than that of SARS-CoV, respectively. The comparison with the experimentally verified packaging signals for MERS-CoV, MHV and TGEV proved that the distribution of particular motifs is strongly correlated with the packaging signals. We also found that many motifs were highly conserved in both characters and positioning on the genomes throughout the lineages that make them promising therapeutic targets. The mechanisms of encapsidation can affect the recombination and co-infection as well.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir R Chechetkin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vasily V Lobzin
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ao Z, Ouyang MJ, Olukitibi TA, Yao X. SARS-CoV-2 Delta spike protein enhances the viral fusogenicity and inflammatory cytokine production. iScience 2022; 25:104759. [PMID: 35854977 PMCID: PMC9281453 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Delta variant had spread globally in 2021 and caused more serious disease than the original virus and Omicron variant. In this study, we investigated several virological features of Delta spike protein (SPDelta), including protein maturation, its impact on viral entry of pseudovirus and cell-cell fusion, and its induction of inflammatory cytokine production in human macrophages and dendritic cells. The results showed that SPΔCDelta exhibited enhanced S1/S2 cleavage in cells and pseudotyped virus-like particles (PVLPs). Further, SPΔCDelta elevated pseudovirus entry in human lung cell lines and significantly enhanced syncytia formation. Furthermore, we revealed that SPΔCDelta-PVLPs had stronger effects on stimulating NF-κB and AP-1 signaling in human monocytic THP1 cells and induced significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokine, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, released from human macrophages and dendritic cells. Overall, these studies provide evidence to support the important role of SPΔCDelta during virus infection, transmission, and pathogenesis. SARS-CoV-2 Delta-SP exhibits enhanced cleavage and more efficient pseudovirus entry Delta-SP enhances syncytia formation in A549 cells expressing ACE2 Delta-SP stimulates higher NF-κB and AP1 signaling pathway activities Delta-SP stimulates higher proinflammatory cytokine production in MDMs and MDDCs
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhujun Ao
- Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Maggie Jing Ouyang
- Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Titus Abiola Olukitibi
- Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Xiaojian Yao
- Laboratory of Molecular Human Retrovirology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
He W, Gao Y, Zhou J, Shi Y, Xia D, Shen HM. Friend or Foe? Implication of the autophagy-lysosome pathway in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4690-4703. [PMID: 35874956 PMCID: PMC9305279 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing amount of evidence indicating the close interplays between the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells. While autophagy machinery is known to either assist or inhibit the viral replication process, the reciprocal effects of the SARS-CoV-2 on the autophagy-lysosome pathway have also been increasingly appreciated. More importantly, despite the disappointing results from the clinical trials of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in treatment of COVID-19, there is still ongoing effort in discovering new therapeutics targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway. In this review, we provide an update-to-date summary of the interplays between the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells and the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 at the molecular level, to highlight the prognostic value of autophagy markers in COVID-19 patients and to discuss the potential of developing novel therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 by targeting the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Thus, understanding the nature of such interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the autophagy-lysosome pathway in the host cells is expected to provide novel strategies in battling against this global pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Physiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Dajing Xia
- Department of Toxicology of School of Public Health, Department of Gynecologic Oncology of Women's Hospital; Department of Central Laboratory, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Han-Ming Shen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sakamuru S, Huang R, Xia M. Use of Tox21 Screening Data to Evaluate the COVID-19 Drug Candidates for Their Potential Toxic Effects and Related Pathways. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:935399. [PMID: 35910344 PMCID: PMC9333127 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.935399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, various potential therapeutic agents for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), are being investigated worldwide mainly through the drug repurposing approach. Several anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-malarial, and anti-inflammatory drugs were employed in randomized trials and observational studies for developing new therapeutics for COVID-19. Although an increasing number of repurposed drugs have shown anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities in vitro, so far only remdesivir has been approved by the US FDA to treat COVID-19, and several other drugs approved for Emergency Use Authorization, including sotrovimab, tocilizumab, baricitinib, paxlovid, molnupiravir, and other potential strategies to develop safe and effective therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 infection are still underway. Many drugs employed as anti-viral may exert unwanted side effects (i.e., toxicity) via unknown mechanisms. To quickly assess these drugs for their potential toxicological effects and mechanisms, we used the Tox21 in vitro assay datasets generated from screening ∼10,000 compounds consisting of approved drugs and environmental chemicals against multiple cellular targets and pathways. Here we summarize the toxicological profiles of small molecule drugs that are currently under clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19 based on their in vitro activities against various targets and cellular signaling pathways.
Collapse
|
11
|
Potential of Microneedle Systems for COVID-19 Vaccination: Current Trends and Challenges. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14051066. [PMID: 35631652 PMCID: PMC9144974 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14051066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and aid restoration to prepandemic normality, global mass vaccination is urgently needed. Inducing herd immunity through mass vaccination has proven to be a highly effective strategy for preventing the spread of many infectious diseases, which protects the most vulnerable population groups that are unable to develop immunity, such as people with immunodeficiencies or weakened immune systems due to underlying medical or debilitating conditions. In achieving global outreach, the maintenance of the vaccine potency, transportation, and needle waste generation become major issues. Moreover, needle phobia and vaccine hesitancy act as hurdles to successful mass vaccination. The use of dissolvable microneedles for COVID-19 vaccination could act as a major paradigm shift in attaining the desired goal to vaccinate billions in the shortest time possible. In addressing these points, we discuss the potential of the use of dissolvable microneedles for COVID-19 vaccination based on the current literature.
Collapse
|
12
|
Ngan DK, Xu T, Xia M, Zheng W, Huang R. Repurposing drugs as COVID-19 therapies: a toxicity evaluation. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1983-1993. [PMID: 35395401 PMCID: PMC8983078 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Drug repurposing is an appealing method to address the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic because of the low cost and efficiency. We analyzed our in-house database of approved drug screens and compared their activity profiles with results from a severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cytopathic effect (CPE) assay. The activity profiles of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG), phospholipidosis (PLD), and many cytotoxicity screens were found significantly correlated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. hERG inhibition is a nonspecific off-target effect that has contributed to promiscuous drug interactions, whereas drug-induced PLD is an undesirable effect linked to hERG blockers. Thus, this study identifies preferred drug candidates as well as chemical structures that should be avoided because of their potential to induce toxicity. Lastly, we highlight the hERG liability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs currently enrolled in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K Ngan
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Tuan Xu
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Menghang Xia
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Ruili Huang
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hasankhani A, Bahrami A, Sheybani N, Aria B, Hemati B, Fatehi F, Ghaem Maghami Farahani H, Javanmard G, Rezaee M, Kastelic JP, Barkema HW. Differential Co-Expression Network Analysis Reveals Key Hub-High Traffic Genes as Potential Therapeutic Targets for COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Immunol 2022; 12:789317. [PMID: 34975885 PMCID: PMC8714803 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.789317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The recent emergence of COVID-19, rapid worldwide spread, and incomplete knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection have limited development of therapeutic strategies. Our objective was to systematically investigate molecular regulatory mechanisms of COVID-19, using a combination of high throughput RNA-sequencing-based transcriptomics and systems biology approaches. Methods RNA-Seq data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy persons, mild and severe 17 COVID-19 patients were analyzed to generate a gene expression matrix. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify co-expression modules in healthy samples as a reference set. For differential co-expression network analysis, module preservation and module-trait relationships approaches were used to identify key modules. Then, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, based on co-expressed hub genes, were constructed to identify hub genes/TFs with the highest information transfer (hub-high traffic genes) within candidate modules. Results Based on differential co-expression network analysis, connectivity patterns and network density, 72% (15 of 21) of modules identified in healthy samples were altered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 caused systemic perturbations in host biological gene networks. In functional enrichment analysis, among 15 non-preserved modules and two significant highly-correlated modules (identified by MTRs), 9 modules were directly related to the host immune response and COVID-19 immunopathogenesis. Intriguingly, systemic investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection identified signaling pathways and key genes/proteins associated with COVID-19's main hallmarks, e.g., cytokine storm, respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute lung injury (ALI), lymphopenia, coagulation disorders, thrombosis, and pregnancy complications, as well as comorbidities associated with COVID-19, e.g., asthma, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), liver disorders and acute kidney injury (AKI). Topological analysis with betweenness centrality (BC) identified 290 hub-high traffic genes, central in both co-expression and PPI networks. We also identified several transcriptional regulatory factors, including NFKB1, HIF1A, AHR, and TP53, with important immunoregulatory roles in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, several hub-high traffic genes, including IL6, IL1B, IL10, TNF, SOCS1, SOCS3, ICAM1, PTEN, RHOA, GDI2, SUMO1, CASP1, IRAK3, HSPA5, ADRB2, PRF1, GZMB, OASL, CCL5, HSP90AA1, HSPD1, IFNG, MAPK1, RAB5A, and TNFRSF1A had the highest rates of information transfer in 9 candidate modules and central roles in COVID-19 immunopathogenesis. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive information on molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-host interactions and identifies several hub-high traffic genes as promising therapeutic targets for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aliakbar Hasankhani
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Bahrami
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.,Biomedical Center for Systems Biology Science Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Negin Sheybani
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Aria
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Behzad Hemati
- Biotechnology Research Center, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
| | - Farhang Fatehi
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | | | - Ghazaleh Javanmard
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mahsa Rezaee
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - John P Kastelic
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Herman W Barkema
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Artificial intelligence unifies knowledge and actions in drug repositioning. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 5:803-813. [PMID: 34881780 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Drug repositioning aims to reuse existing drugs, shelved drugs, or drug candidates that failed clinical trials for other medical indications. Its attraction is sprung from the reduction in risk associated with safety testing of new medications and the time to get a known drug into the clinics. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been recently pursued to speed up drug repositioning and discovery. The essence of AI in drug repositioning is to unify the knowledge and actions, i.e. incorporating real-world and experimental data to map out the best way forward to identify effective therapeutics against a disease. In this review, we share positive expectations for the evolution of AI and drug repositioning and summarize the role of AI in several methods of drug repositioning.
Collapse
|
15
|
Over Fifty Years of Life, Death, and Cannibalism: A Historical Recollection of Apoptosis and Autophagy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212466. [PMID: 34830349 PMCID: PMC8618802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Research in biomedical sciences has changed dramatically over the past fifty years. There is no doubt that the discovery of apoptosis and autophagy as two highly synchronized and regulated mechanisms in cellular homeostasis are among the most important discoveries in these decades. Along with the advancement in molecular biology, identifying the genetic players in apoptosis and autophagy has shed light on our understanding of their function in physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we first describe the history of key discoveries in apoptosis with a molecular insight and continue with apoptosis pathways and their regulation. We touch upon the role of apoptosis in human health and its malfunction in several diseases. We discuss the path to the morphological and molecular discovery of autophagy. Moreover, we dive deep into the precise regulation of autophagy and recent findings from basic research to clinical applications of autophagy modulation in human health and illnesses and the available therapies for many diseases caused by impaired autophagy. We conclude with the exciting crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy, from the early discoveries to recent findings.
Collapse
|
16
|
Aherfi S, Pradines B, Devaux C, Honore S, Colson P, Scola BL, Raoult D. Drug repurposing against SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:1341-1370. [PMID: 34755538 PMCID: PMC8579950 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, large in silico screening studies and numerous in vitro studies have assessed the antiviral activity of various drugs on SARS-CoV-2. In the context of health emergency, drug repurposing represents the most relevant strategy because of the reduced time for approval by international medicines agencies, the low cost of development and the well-known toxicity profile of such drugs. Herein, we aim to review drugs with in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, combined with molecular docking data and results from preliminary clinical studies. Finally, when considering all these previous findings, as well as the possibility of oral administration, 11 molecules consisting of nelfinavir, favipiravir, azithromycin, clofoctol, clofazimine, ivermectin, nitazoxanide, amodiaquine, heparin, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, show an interesting antiviral activity that could be exploited as possible drug candidates for COVID-19 treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Aherfi
- Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, 13005, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) – Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, 13005, France
- Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny & Infection (MEΦI), Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Bruno Pradines
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) – Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, 13005, France
- Unité Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, 13005, France
- Aix-Marseille Univ, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, Marseille, 13005, France
- Centre national de référence du paludisme, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Christian Devaux
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) – Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Stéphane Honore
- Aix Marseille Université, Laboratoire de Pharmacie Clinique, Marseille, 13005, France
- AP-HM, hôpital Timone, service pharmacie, Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Philippe Colson
- Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, 13005, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) – Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, 13005, France
- Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny & Infection (MEΦI), Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Bernard La Scola
- Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, 13005, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) – Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, 13005, France
- Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny & Infection (MEΦI), Marseille, 13005, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix-Marseille Université, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, 13005, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) – Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, 13005, France
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gerstner N, Kehl T, Lenhof K, Eckhart L, Schneider L, Stöckel D, Backes C, Meese E, Keller A, Lenhof HP. GeneTrail: A Framework for the Analysis of High-Throughput Profiles. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:716544. [PMID: 34604304 PMCID: PMC8481803 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.716544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental high-throughput techniques, like next-generation sequencing or microarrays, are nowadays routinely applied to create detailed molecular profiles of cells. In general, these platforms generate high-dimensional and noisy data sets. For their analysis, powerful bioinformatics tools are required to gain novel insights into the biological processes under investigation. Here, we present an overview of the GeneTrail tool suite that offers rich functionality for the analysis and visualization of (epi-)genomic, transcriptomic, miRNomic, and proteomic profiles. Our framework enables the analysis of standard bulk, time-series, and single-cell measurements and includes various state-of-the-art methods to identify potentially deregulated biological processes and to detect driving factors within those deregulated processes. We highlight the capabilities of our web service with an analysis of a single-cell COVID-19 data set that demonstrates its potential for uncovering complex molecular mechanisms. GeneTrail can be accessed freely and without login requirements at http://genetrail.bioinf.uni-sb.de.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nico Gerstner
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Tim Kehl
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Kerstin Lenhof
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Lea Eckhart
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Lara Schneider
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Daniel Stöckel
- Healthcare Digital & Data, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christina Backes
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- Department of Human Genetics, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Hans-Peter Lenhof
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
SARS-CoV-2 attenuates corticosteroid sensitivity by suppressing DUSP1 expression and activating p38 MAPK pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 908:174374. [PMID: 34303662 PMCID: PMC8295491 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of corticosteroids and its use for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections is controversial. In this study, using data sets of SARS-CoV-2 infected lung tissues and nasopharyngeal swabs, as well as in vitro experiments, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly downregulates DUSP1 expression. This downregulation of DUSP1 could be the mechanism regulating the enhanced activation of MAPK pathway as well as the reported steroid resistance in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, chloroquine, an off labeled COVID-19 drug is able to induce DUSP1 and attenuate MAPK pathway; and is expected to improve sensitivity to steroid treatment. However, further mechanistic studies are required to confirm this effect.
Collapse
|
19
|
Construction of an autophagy interaction network based on competitive endogenous RNA reveals the key pathways and central genes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. Microb Pathog 2021; 158:105051. [PMID: 34153417 PMCID: PMC8213537 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As of April 1, 2021, more than 2.8 million people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, the mutation of virus strains that have accompanied the pandemic has brought more severe challenges to pandemic control. Host microRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in a variety of biological processes of coronavirus infection, including autophagy in SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the mechanisms underlying miRNAs involved in autophagy in SARS-CoV-2 infection have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were investigated based on raw data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, and potential novel biomarkers of autophagy were revealed by bioinformatics analyses. We identified 32 differentially expressed miRNAs and 332 differentially expressed mRNAs in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cytokine receptor related pathways were the most enriched pathways for differentially expressed miRNAs identified by pathway analysis. Most importantly, an autophagy interaction network, which was associated with the pathological processes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially with the cytokine storm, was constructed. In this network, hsa-miR-340–3p, hsa-miR-652–3p, hsa-miR-4772–5p, hsa-miR-192–5p, TP53INP2, and CCR2 may be biomarkers that predict changes in mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some molecules, including hsa-miR-1291 and CXCR4, were considered potential targets to predict the emergence of severe symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 infection. To our knowledge, this study provided the first profile analysis of an autophagy interaction network in SARS-CoV-2 infection and revealed several novel autophagy-related biomarkers for understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo.
Collapse
|
20
|
Gorshkov K, Chen CZ, Bostwick R, Rasmussen L, Tran BN, Cheng YS, Xu M, Pradhan M, Henderson M, Zhu W, Oh E, Susumu K, Wolak M, Shamim K, Huang W, Hu X, Shen M, Klumpp-Thomas C, Itkin Z, Shinn P, Carlos de la Torre J, Simeonov A, Michael SG, Hall MD, Lo DC, Zheng W. The SARS-CoV-2 Cytopathic Effect Is Blocked by Lysosome Alkalizing Small Molecules. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1389-1408. [PMID: 33346633 PMCID: PMC7771250 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Understanding the SARS-CoV-2 virus’
pathways of infection,
virus–host–protein interactions, and mechanisms of virus-induced
cytopathic effects will greatly aid in the discovery and design of
new therapeutics to treat COVID-19. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine,
extensively explored as clinical agents for COVID-19, have multiple
cellular effects including alkalizing lysosomes and blocking autophagy
as well as exhibiting dose-limiting toxicities in patients. Therefore,
we evaluated additional lysosomotropic compounds to identify an alternative
lysosome-based drug repurposing opportunity. We found that six of
these compounds blocked the cytopathic effect of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero
E6 cells with half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values ranging from 2.0 to 13 μM and selectivity indices
(SIs; SI = CC50/EC50) ranging from 1.5- to >10-fold.
The compounds (1) blocked lysosome functioning and autophagy, (2)
prevented pseudotyped particle entry, (3) increased lysosomal pH,
and (4) reduced (ROC-325) viral titers in the EpiAirway 3D tissue
model. Consistent with these findings, the siRNA knockdown of ATP6V0D1
blocked the HCoV-NL63 cytopathic effect in LLC-MK2 cells. Moreover,
an analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cell lysate revealed significant
dysregulation of autophagy and lysosomal function, suggesting a contribution
of the lysosome to the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings suggest
the lysosome as a potential host cell target to combat SARS-CoV-2
infections and inhibitors of lysosomal function could become an important
component of drug combination therapies aimed at improving treatment
and outcomes for COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Gorshkov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Catherine Z. Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Robert Bostwick
- Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Lynn Rasmussen
- Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205, United States
| | - Bruce Nguyen Tran
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Yu-Shan Cheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Miao Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Manisha Pradhan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Mark Henderson
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Wei Zhu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Eunkeu Oh
- Optical Sciences Division, Code 5600, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Kimihiro Susumu
- Optical Sciences Division, Code 5600, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
- Jacobs Corporation, Hanover, Maryland 21076, United States
| | - Mason Wolak
- Optical Sciences Division, Code 5600, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Khalida Shamim
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Wenwei Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Xin Hu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Carleen Klumpp-Thomas
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Zina Itkin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Paul Shinn
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, IMM6, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Anton Simeonov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Sam G. Michael
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Matthew D. Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Donald C. Lo
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Biological activity-based modeling identifies antiviral leads against SARS-CoV-2. Nat Biotechnol 2021; 39:747-753. [PMID: 33623157 PMCID: PMC9843700 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-00839-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Computational approaches for drug discovery, such as quantitative structure-activity relationship, rely on structural similarities of small molecules to infer biological activity but are often limited to identifying new drug candidates in the chemical spaces close to known ligands. Here we report a biological activity-based modeling (BABM) approach, in which compound activity profiles established across multiple assays are used as signatures to predict compound activity in other assays or against a new target. This approach was validated by identifying candidate antivirals for Zika and Ebola viruses based on high-throughput screening data. BABM models were then applied to predict 311 compounds with potential activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Of the predicted compounds, 32% had antiviral activity in a cell culture live virus assay, the most potent compounds showing a half-maximal inhibitory concentration in the nanomolar range. Most of the confirmed anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds were found to be viral entry inhibitors and/or autophagy modulators. The confirmed compounds have the potential to be further developed into anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies.
Collapse
|
22
|
Sargazi S, Sheervalilou R, Rokni M, Shirvaliloo M, Shahraki O, Rezaei N. The role of autophagy in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection: An overview on virophagy-mediated molecular drug targets. Cell Biol Int 2021; 45:1599-1612. [PMID: 33818861 PMCID: PMC8251464 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy-dependent cell death is a prominent mechanism that majorly contributes to homeostasis by maintaining the turnover of organelles under stressful conditions. Several viruses, including coronaviruses (CoVs), take advantage of cellular autophagy to facilitate their own replication. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a beta-coronavirus (β-CoVs) that mediates its replication through a dependent or independent ATG5 pathway using specific double-membrane vesicles that can be considered as similar to autophagosomes. With due attention to several mutations in NSP6, a nonstructural protein with a positive regulatory effect on autophagosome formation, a potential correlation between SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis mechanisms and autophagy can be expected. Certain medications, albeit limited in number, have been indicated to negatively regulate autophagy flux, potentially in a way similar to the inhibitory effect of β-CoVs on the process of autophagy. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support their direct antagonizing effect on CoVs. Off-target accumulation of a major fraction of FDA-approved autophagy modulating drugs may result in adverse effects. Therefore, medications that have modulatory effects on autophagy could be considered as potential lead compounds for the development of new treatments against this virus. This review discusses the role of autophagy/virophagy in controlling SARS-CoV-2, focusing on the potential therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saman Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | | | - Mohsen Rokni
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Milad Shirvaliloo
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Omolbanin Shahraki
- Pharmacology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.,Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|