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Rasmi Y, di Bari I, Faisal S, Haque M, Aramwit P, da Silva A, Roshani Asl E. Herbal-based therapeutics for diabetic patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:316. [PMID: 38376656 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09291-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Human SARS Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 170 million people worldwide, being responsible for about 3.5 million deaths so far. Despite ongoing investigations, there is still more to understand the mechanism of COVID-19 infection completely. However, it has been evidenced that SARS-CoV-2 can cause Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) notably in diabetic people. Approximately 35% of the patients who died of this disease had diabetes. A growing number of studies have evidenced that hyperglycemia is a significant risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and plays a key role in COVID-19 mortality and diabetes comorbidity. The uncontrolled hyperglycemia can produce low-grade inflammation and impaired immunity-mediated cytokine storm that fail multiple organs and sudden death in diabetic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. More importantly, SARS-CoV-2 infection and interaction with ACE2 receptors also contribute to pancreatic and metabolic impairment. Thus, using of diabetes medications has been suggested to be beneficial in the better management of diabetic COVID-19 patients. Herbal treatments, as safe and affordable therapeutic agents, have recently attracted a lot of attention in this field. Accordingly, in this review, we intend to have a deep look into the molecular mechanisms of diabetic complications in SARS-CoV-2 infection and explore the therapeutic potentials of herbal medications and natural products in the management of diabetic COVID-19 patients based on recent studies and the existing clinical evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Rasmi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Orūmīyeh, Iran
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Orūmīyeh, Iran
| | - Ighli di Bari
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Shah Faisal
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Munima Haque
- Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Pornanong Aramwit
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center of Excellence in Bioactive Resources for Innovative Clinical Applications, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- The Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Dusit, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Aline da Silva
- Department of Soil and Rural, Centre for Agrarian Science, Campus II, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, João Pessoa, Brazil.
| | - Elmira Roshani Asl
- Department of Biochemistry, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran.
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Gomaa AA, Abdel-Wadood YA, Thabet RH, Gomaa GA. Pharmacological evaluation of vitamin D in COVID-19 and long COVID-19: recent studies confirm clinical validation and highlight metformin to improve VDR sensitivity and efficacy. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:249-271. [PMID: 37957515 PMCID: PMC10907442 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01383-x] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Nearly four years after its first appearance, and having gone from pandemic to endemic, the SARS-CoV-2 remains out of control globally. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of vitamin D (VD) in COVID-19 and long COVID-19, explain the discrepancy in clinical outcomes and highlight the potential impact of metformin on VD efficacy in recent articles. Articles from January 2022 to August 2023 were selected for this review. The objective of this study was achieved by reviewing, analyzing, and discussing articles demonstrating (1) the mechanism of action of VD (2) observational or randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that support or not the beneficial clinical effects of VD in COVID-19 or long COVID. (3) genetic and non-genetic reasons for the variation in the effects of VD. Articles were collected from electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Egyptian Knowledge Bank, Science Direct, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Twenty three studies conducted in vitro or in animal models indicated that VD may act in COVID-19 through protecting the respiratory system by antimicrobial peptide cathelicidins, reducing lung inflammation, regulating innate and adaptive immune functions and up regulation of autophagy gene activity. Our review identified 58 clinical studies that met the criteria. The number of publications supporting a beneficial clinical activity of VD in treating COVID-19 was 49 (86%), including 12 meta-analyses. Although the total patients included in all articles was 14,071,273, patients included in publications supporting a beneficial role of VD in COVID-19 were 14,029,411 (99.7%). Collectively, extensive observational studies indicated a decisive relationship between low VD levels and the severity of COVID-19 and mortality outcomes. Importantly, evidence from intervention studies has demonstrated the effectiveness of VD supplements in treating COVID-19. Furthermore, the results of 4 observational studies supported the beneficial role of VD in alleviating symptoms of long COVID-19 disease. However, eight RCTs and one meta-analysis of RCTs may contain low-grade evidence against a beneficial role of VD in COVID-19. Twenty-five articles have addressed the association between VDR and DBP genetic polymorphisms and treatment failure of VD in COVID-19. Impaired VDR signaling may underlie the variability of VD effects as non-genetic mechanisms. Interestingly, in recent studies, metformin has a beneficial therapeutic role in COVID-19 and long COVID-19, possibly by improving AMPK signaling of the VDR and enhancing the efficacy of the VD. In conclusion, evidence has been significantly strengthened over the past 18 months, with several meta-analyses and RCTs reporting conclusive beneficial effects of VD supplementation against COVID-19 and highlighting metformin to improve VDR sensitivity and efficacy in treating COVID-19 and long COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel A Gomaa
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
| | | | - Romany H Thabet
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Lim S, Kwon HJ, Jeong DG, Nie H, Lee S, Ko SR, Lee KS, Ryu YB, Mason HS, Kim HS, Shin AY, Kwon SY. Enhanced binding and inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by a plant-derived ACE2 protein containing a fused mu tailpiece. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300319. [PMID: 37853601 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300319] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases such as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) present an increasingly persistent crisis in many parts of the world. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a crucial cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Inhibition of the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 has been proposed as a target for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We produced four recombinant plant-derived ACE2 isoforms with or without the mu tailpiece (μ-tp) of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and the KDEL endoplasmic reticulum retention motif in a plant expression system. The plant-derived ACE2 isoforms bound whole SARS-CoV-2 virus and the isolated receptor binding domains of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants. Fusion of μ-tp and KDEL to the ACE2 protein (ACE2 μK) had enhanced binding activity with SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with unmodified ACE2 protein derived from CHO cells. Furthermore, the plant-derived ACE2 μK protein exhibited no cytotoxic effects on Vero E6 cells and effectively inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection. The efficient and rapid scalability of plant-derived ACE2 μK protein offers potential for the development of preventive and therapeutic agents in the early response to future viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohee Lim
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Jun Kwon
- Functional Biomaterial Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Gwin Jeong
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Bio-Analytical Science Division, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hualin Nie
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghee Lee
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Biosystems and Bioengineering Program, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo-Rin Ko
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioinformatics, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Sun Lee
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Bio-Analytical Science Division, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Bae Ryu
- Functional Biomaterial Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Hugh S Mason
- Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy (CIVV), The Biodesign Institute at ASU, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Hyun-Soon Kim
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Biosystems and Bioengineering Program, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ah-Young Shin
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioinformatics, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Yoon Kwon
- Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Biosystems and Bioengineering Program, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Sulthana S, Bhatti A, Mathew E, Quazi SH, Gaudreault NN, DeLong R, Aryal S. Synthetic graphene-copper nanocomposites interact with the hACE-2 enzyme and inhibit its biochemical activity. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 6:188-196. [PMID: 38125590 PMCID: PMC10729868 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00468f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
This study demonstrates the copper nanocomposite-induced enzymatic inhibition of human angiotensin I-converting enzyme-2 (hACE-2) by complex stabilization through the formation of the enzyme nanocomposite. The immediate application of this work is related to ACE-2 as a mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. Moreover, ACE-2 enzyme regulation is a potential therapeutic strategy in hypertension and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung injury, and fibrotic disorders. Thus, inhibition of ACE-2 with nanocomposite therapy, may have pharmacologic application with regard to infectious and non-infectious diseases. Synthesized copper nanocomposites described here alone with a commercially available compound, were tested for their potential to inhibit hACE-2 activities. Following wet chemical synthesis, Cu/CuO nanoparticles and graphene-copper (GO-Cu) complexes were synthesized and characterized for their chemical integrity. Cu/CuO formed well-dispersed clusters of 390 ± 100 nm, that when complexed with the hACE-2 enzyme exhibited larger clusters of 506 ± 56 nm. The formation of the Cu/CuO and hACE-2 enzyme complex was monitored by analyzing the zeta potential, which reflected the surface charge distribution of the complex. A negatively charged Cu/CuO nanocomposite nearly becomes neutral when complexed with hACE-2 further assuring the complex formation. Formation of this complex and its inactivation of hACE-2 was evaluated using a standardized protocal for enzymatic activity. Similarly, carboxylate-functionalized graphene was complexed with copper, and its inhibitory effect was studied. Each step in the GO-Cu composite formation was monitored by characterizing its surface electrical properties, resulting in a decrease in its zeta potential and conductivity when complexed with copper. The interaction of the nanocomposites with hACE-2 was confirmed by 2D-FDS and gel electrophoresis analysis. GO-Cu was a rapid and efficacious inhibitor compared to Cu-CuO, especially at lower concentrations (2 μg ml-1). Considering the environmental friendliness of copper and graphene and their use in industries as surface coating materials, we anticipate that use of these composites once proven effective, may have future antimicrobial application. Utility of nanocomposites as antimicrobials, either as a surface antimicrobial or as an in vivo therapeutic, could be invisioned for use against current unknown and/or emergent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoukath Sulthana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Outcomes, The Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Tyler Tyler TX 75799 USA
| | - Abeera Bhatti
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Elza Mathew
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Sohel H Quazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Outcomes, The Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Tyler Tyler TX 75799 USA
- Department of Biology, Division of Natural and Computational Sciences, Texas College Tyler TX 75702 USA
| | - Natasha N Gaudreault
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University Manhattan KS 66506 USA
| | - Robert DeLong
- Landmark Bio, Innovation Development Laboratory Watertown MA 02472 USA
| | - Santosh Aryal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Health Outcomes, The Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Tyler Tyler TX 75799 USA
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Kim JW, Kim HJ, Heo K, Lee Y, Jang HJ, Lee HY, Park JW, Cho YB, Lee JH, Shin HG, Yang HR, Choi HL, Shim HB, Lee S. A novel bispecific antibody dual-targeting approach for enhanced neutralization against fast-evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1271508. [PMID: 37822941 PMCID: PMC10562541 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1271508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has caused unprecedented health and socioeconomic crises, necessitating the immediate development of highly effective neutralizing antibodies. Despite recent advancements in anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) derived from convalescent patient samples, their efficacy against emerging variants has been limited. In this study, we present a novel dual-targeting strategy using bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that specifically recognize both the SARS-CoV-2 RBD and fusion peptide (FP), crucial domains for viral attachment to the host cell membrane and fusion in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods Using phage display technology, we rapidly isolated FP-specific mAbs from an established human recombinant antibody library, identifying K107.1 with a nanomolar affinity for SARS-CoV-2 FP. Furthermore, we generated K203.A, a new bsAb built in immunoglobulin G4-(single-chain variable fragment)2 forms and demonstrating a high manufacturing yield and nanomolar affinity to both the RBD and FP, by fusing K102.1, our previously reported RBD-specific mAb, with K107.1. Results Our comprehensive in vitro functional analyses revealed that the K203.A bsAb significantly outperformed the parental RBD-specific mAb in terms of neutralization efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Furthermore, intravenous monotherapy with K203.A demonstrated potent in vivo neutralizing activity without significant in vivo toxicity in a mouse model infected with a SARS-CoV-2 variant. Conclusion These findings present a novel bsAb dual-targeting strategy, directed at SARS-CoV-2 RBD and FP, as an effective approach for rapid development and management against continuously evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Woong Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Kim
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyun Heo
- Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Antibody Research Institute, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonwoo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hui Jeong Jang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Won Park
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yea Bin Cho
- Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Gyeong Shin
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Rim Yang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Lim Choi
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Bo Shim
- Department of Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sukmook Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Chemistry, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Antibody Research Institute, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Shevchuk O, Pak A, Palii S, Ivankiv Y, Kozak K, Korda M, Vari SG. Blood ACE2 Protein Level Correlates with COVID-19 Severity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13957. [PMID: 37762258 PMCID: PMC10530872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813957] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
ACE2's impact on the severity of COVID-19 is widely discussed but still controversial. To estimate its role in aspects of the main risk factors and comorbidities, we involved post-COVID-19 patients in Ternopil region (Ukraine). The recruitment period was from July 2020 to December 2021. Medical records, treatment modalities, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. The serum human ACE2 protein was measured with Cusabio ELISA kits (Houston, TX, USA). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS21.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The level of the ACE2 serum protein was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with mild symptoms compared to a more severe course of the disease, and inversely had changed from 1 to 90 days after recovery. In patients with mild COVID-19, ACE2 levels significantly decreased over time, while among critical patients, it increased by 34.1 percent. Such results could be explained by ACE2 shedding from tissues into circulation. Loss of the membrane-bound form of the enzyme decreases the virus' entry into cells. Our studies did not identify a sex-related ACE2 serum level correlation. The most common comorbidities were hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and diabetes mellitus. All abovementioned comorbidities except respiratory diseases contribute to the severity of the disease and correlate with ACE2 blood serum levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Shevchuk
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine; (A.P.); (S.P.); (Y.I.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Anastasia Pak
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine; (A.P.); (S.P.); (Y.I.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Svitlana Palii
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine; (A.P.); (S.P.); (Y.I.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Yana Ivankiv
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine; (A.P.); (S.P.); (Y.I.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Kateryna Kozak
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine; (A.P.); (S.P.); (Y.I.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Mykhaylo Korda
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine; (A.P.); (S.P.); (Y.I.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Sandor G. Vari
- International Research and Innovation in Medicine Program, Cedars–Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA;
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