1
|
Murru A, Manchia M, Hajek T, Nielsen RE, Rybakowski JK, Sani G, Schulze TG, Tondo L, Bauer M. Lithium's antiviral effects: a potential drug for CoViD-19 disease? Int J Bipolar Disord 2020; 8:21. [PMID: 32435920 PMCID: PMC7239605 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-020-00191-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since its introduction in modern medicine, naturalistic observations emerged about possible uses of lithium treatment for conditions different from recurring affective disorders, for which it is still a first-line treatment option. Some evidence about the antiviral properties of lithium began in the early 1970s, when some reports found a reduction of labial-herpetic recurrences. The present review aims to present most of the pre-clinical and clinical evidence about lithium's ability to inhibit DNA and RNA viruses, including Coronaviridae, as well as the possible pathways and mechanisms involved in such antiviral activity. MAIN BODY Despite a broad number of in vitro studies, the rationale for the antiviral activity of lithium failed to translate into methodologically sound clinical studies demonstrating its antiviral efficacy. In addition, the tolerability of lithium as an antiviral agent should be addressed. In fact, treatment with lithium requires continuous monitoring of its serum levels in order to prevent acute toxicity and long-term side effects, most notably affecting the kidney and thyroid. Yet lithium reaches heterogeneous but bioequivalent concentrations in different tissues, and the anatomical compartment of the viral infection might underpin a different, lower need for tolerability concerns which need to be addressed. CONCLUSIONS Lithium presents a clear antiviral activity demonstrated at preclinical level, but that remains to be confirmed in clinical settings. In addition, the pleiotropic mechanisms of action of lithium may provide an insight for its possible use as antiviral agent targeting specific pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Murru
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, IDIBAPS CIBERSAM, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mirko Manchia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital Agency of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Tomas Hajek
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - René E Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Psychiatry-Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Janusz K Rybakowski
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Thomas G Schulze
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center (UMG), Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Leonardo Tondo
- International Consortium for Research on Mood & Psychotic Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorders Centers, Cagliari and Rome, Italy
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ziaie Z, Kefalides NA. Lithium chloride restores host protein synthesis in herpes simplex virus-infected endothelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1989; 160:1073-8. [PMID: 2543386 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(89)80112-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies we have shown that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection suppresses host-cell protein synthesis in human endothelial cells (EC). It has been demonstrated that lithium salts prevent viral replication in HSV-1 infected cells. In the present study, we have measured host-cell protein synthesis in HSV-1 infected EC in the presence or absence of 20 and 30 mM LiCl. Although LiCl restored synthesis of almost all host-cell proteins, [35S]methionine incorporation was most pronounced in thrombospondin and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and least in fibronectin and type IV collagen. LiCl was more effective at the higher concentration (30 mM) and when the compound was added to the EC culture at the time of infection rather than after adsorption of HSV-1. Synthesis of virus proteins continued in LiCl-treated EC but at a reduced rate. The data suggest that LiCl not only interferes with virus replication, but may also, to some extent, interfere with the virion-associated inhibition of host protein synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Z Ziaie
- Connective Tissue Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hill JM, Dudley JB, Shimomura Y, Kaufman HE. Quantitation and kinetics of induced HSV-1 ocular shedding. Curr Eye Res 1986; 5:241-6. [PMID: 3009094 DOI: 10.3109/02713688609020049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Iontophoresis of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HD) to the rabbit eye, followed by topical instillation of 2% epinephrine, induces ocular shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) reliably and with a high frequency in latently infected rabbits. Rabbit eyes inoculated with HSV-1 (McKrae strain) showed dendritic lesions indicative of acute HSV infection and subsequently shed virus spontaneously at least once during days 20 to 39 postinoculation (P.I.). Two iontophoretic conditions were employed. Group A (3 rabbits, 60.3 days P.I.) received iontophoresis of 1.0% 6-HD at 0.75 mAmp for 3 min. Group B (three rabbits, 67.3 days P.I.) received iontophoresis of 0.1% 6-HD at 0.5 mAmp for 8 min. Following iontophoresis, 2% epinephrine was instilled topically once on the day of iontophoresis and twice daily for four consecutive days. Tear film was collected on Dacron swabs and titered on African green monkey kidney cells by a plaque assay procedure. In group A, 100% (6/6) of the eyes shed virus, and the average duration of shedding was 4.0 days. The titers ranged from 2.0 to 7.7 X 10(4) plaque-forming units (PFU) per eye. The highest daily average titer, 9.89 X 10(3) PFU/eye, occurred on day 5 following iontophoresis. In Group B, 100% (6/6) of the eyes also shed virus, and the average duration of shedding was 5.3 days. The viral titer of the tear film ranged from 5.0 to 1.4 X 10(5) PFU/eye. The highest daily average titer, 4.68 X 10(3) PFU/eye, also occurred on day 5 following iontophoresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Collapse
|