1
|
Freidel MR, Vakhariya PA, Sardarni SK, Armen RS. The Dual-Targeted Fusion Inhibitor Clofazimine Binds to the S2 Segment of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Viruses 2024; 16:640. [PMID: 38675980 PMCID: PMC11054727 DOI: 10.3390/v16040640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Clofazimine and Arbidol have both been reported to be effective in vitro SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors. Both are promising drugs that have been repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19 and have been used in several previous and ongoing clinical trials. Small-molecule bindings to expressed constructs of the trimeric S2 segment of Spike and the full-length SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein were measured using a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) binding assay. We demonstrate that Clofazimine, Toremifene, Arbidol and its derivatives bind to the S2 segment of the Spike protein. Clofazimine provided the most reliable and highest-quality SPR data for binding with S2 over the conditions explored. A molecular docking approach was used to identify the most favorable binding sites on the S2 segment in the prefusion conformation, highlighting two possible small-molecule binding sites for fusion inhibitors. Results related to molecular docking and modeling of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a newly reported series of Clofazimine derivatives support the proposed Clofazimine binding site on the S2 segment. When the proposed Clofazimine binding site is superimposed with other experimentally determined coronavirus structures in structure-sequence alignments, the changes in sequence and structure may rationalize the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of Clofazimine in closely related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS, hCoV-229E, and hCoV-OC43.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roger S. Armen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Thomas Jefferson University, 901 Walnut St. Suite 918, Philadelphia, PA 19170, USA (P.A.V.); (S.K.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ousingsawat J, Centeio R, Schreiber R, Kunzelmann K. Niclosamide, but not ivermectin, inhibits anoctamin 1 and 6 and attenuates inflammation of the respiratory tract. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:211-227. [PMID: 37979051 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02878-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Inflammatory airway diseases like cystic fibrosis, asthma and COVID-19 are characterized by high levels of pulmonary cytokines. Two well-established antiparasitic drugs, niclosamide and ivermectin, are intensively discussed for the treatment of viral inflammatory airway infections. Here, we examined these repurposed drugs with respect to their anti-inflammatory effects in airways in vivo and in vitro. Niclosamide reduced mucus content, eosinophilic infiltration and cell death in asthmatic mouse lungs in vivo and inhibited release of interleukins in the two differentiated airway epithelial cell lines CFBE and BCi-NS1.1 in vitro. Cytokine release was also inhibited by the knockdown of the Ca2+-activated Cl- channel anoctamin 1 (ANO1, TMEM16A) and the phospholipid scramblase anoctamin 6 (ANO6, TMEM16F), which have previously been shown to affect intracellular Ca2+ levels near the plasma membrane and to facilitate exocytosis. At concentrations around 200 nM, niclosamide inhibited inflammation, lowered intracellular Ca2+, acidified cytosolic pH and blocked activation of ANO1 and ANO6. It is suggested that niclosamide brings about its anti-inflammatory effects at least in part by inhibiting ANO1 and ANO6, and by lowering intracellular Ca2+ levels. In contrast to niclosamide, 1 µM ivermectin did not exert any of the effects described for niclosamide. The present data suggest niclosamide as an effective anti-inflammatory treatment in CF, asthma, and COVID-19, in addition to its previously reported antiviral effects. It has an advantageous concentration-response relationship and is known to be well tolerated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiraporn Ousingsawat
- Physiological Institute, University of Regensburg, Germany University Street 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Raquel Centeio
- Physiological Institute, University of Regensburg, Germany University Street 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Schreiber
- Physiological Institute, University of Regensburg, Germany University Street 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Karl Kunzelmann
- Physiological Institute, University of Regensburg, Germany University Street 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Panteleev MA, Sveshnikova AN, Shakhidzhanov SS, Zamaraev AV, Ataullakhanov FI, Rumyantsev AG. The Ways of the Virus: Interactions of Platelets and Red Blood Cells with SARS-CoV-2, and Their Potential Pathophysiological Significance in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17291. [PMID: 38139118 PMCID: PMC10743882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The hematological effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important in COVID-19 pathophysiology. However, the interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with platelets and red blood cells are still poorly understood. There are conflicting data regarding the mechanisms and significance of these interactions. The aim of this review is to put together available data and discuss hypotheses, the known and suspected effects of the virus on these blood cells, their pathophysiological and diagnostic significance, and the potential role of platelets and red blood cells in the virus's transport, propagation, and clearance by the immune system. We pay particular attention to the mutual activation of platelets, the immune system, the endothelium, and blood coagulation and how this changes with the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. There is now convincing evidence that platelets, along with platelet and erythroid precursors (but not mature erythrocytes), are frequently infected by SARS-CoV-2 and functionally changed. The mechanisms of infection of these cells and their role are not yet entirely clear. Still, the changes in platelets and red blood cells in COVID-19 are significantly associated with disease severity and are likely to have prognostic and pathophysiological significance in the development of thrombotic and pulmonary complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail A. Panteleev
- Department of Medical Physics, Physics Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 1 Samory Mashela, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 30 Srednyaya Kalitnikovskaya Str., 109029 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia N. Sveshnikova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 1 Samory Mashela, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 30 Srednyaya Kalitnikovskaya Str., 109029 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Fundamental Physics and Chemical Engineering, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Soslan S. Shakhidzhanov
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 1 Samory Mashela, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 30 Srednyaya Kalitnikovskaya Str., 109029 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V. Zamaraev
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 Ulitsa Vavilova, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Fazoil I. Ataullakhanov
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 1 Samory Mashela, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 30 Srednyaya Kalitnikovskaya Str., 109029 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, National Research University, 9 Institutskiy Per., 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aleksandr G. Rumyantsev
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 1 Samory Mashela, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ali H, Naseem A, Siddiqui ZI. SARS-CoV-2 Syncytium under the Radar: Molecular Insights of the Spike-Induced Syncytia and Potential Strategies to Limit SARS-CoV-2 Replication. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6079. [PMID: 37763019 PMCID: PMC10531702 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12186079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection induces non-physiological syncytia when its spike fusogenic protein on the surface of the host cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on adjacent cells. Spike-induced syncytia are beneficial for virus replication, transmission, and immune evasion, and contribute to the progression of COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the properties of viral fusion proteins, mainly the SARS-CoV-2 spike, and the involvement of the host factors in the fusion process. We also highlight the possible use of anti-fusogenic factors as an antiviral for the development of therapeutics against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and how the fusogenic property of the spike could be exploited for biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hashim Ali
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Asma Naseem
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1DZ, UK
| | - Zaheenul Islam Siddiqui
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Center, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, New York, NY 11501, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Calvier L, Drelich A, Hsu J, Tseng CT, Mina Y, Nath A, Kounnas MZ, Herz J. Circulating Reelin promotes inflammation and modulates disease activity in acute and long COVID-19 cases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1185748. [PMID: 37441066 PMCID: PMC10333573 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1185748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Thromboembolic complications and excessive inflammation are frequent in severe COVID-19, potentially leading to long COVID. In non-COVID studies, we and others demonstrated that circulating Reelin promotes leukocyte infiltration and thrombosis. Thus, we hypothesized that Reelin participates in endothelial dysfunction and hyperinflammation during COVID-19. We showed that Reelin was increased in COVID-19 patients and correlated with the disease activity. In the severe COVID-19 group, we observed a hyperinflammatory state, as judged by increased concentration of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A), chemokines (IP-10 and MIP-1β), and adhesion markers (E-selectin and ICAM-1). Reelin level was correlated with IL-1α, IL-4, IP-10, MIP-1β, and ICAM-1, suggesting a specific role for Reelin in COVID-19 progression. Furthermore, Reelin and all of the inflammatory markers aforementioned returned to normal in a long COVID cohort, showing that the hyperinflammatory state was resolved. Finally, we tested Reelin inhibition with the anti-Reelin antibody CR-50 in hACE2 transgenic mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. CR-50 prophylactic treatment decreased mortality and disease severity in this model. These results demonstrate a direct proinflammatory function for Reelin in COVID-19 and identify it as a drug target. This work opens translational clinical applications in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and beyond in auto-inflammatory diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Calvier
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Aleksandra Drelich
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Jason Hsu
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Chien-Te Tseng
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Yair Mina
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Avindra Nath
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - Joachim Herz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|