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Alkafaas SS, Abdallah AM, Hassan MH, Hussien AM, Elkafas SS, Loutfy SA, Mikhail A, Murad OG, Elsalahaty MI, Hessien M, Elshazli RM, Alsaeed FA, Ahmed AE, Kamal HK, Hafez W, El-Saadony MT, El-Tarabily KA, Ghosh S. Molecular docking as a tool for the discovery of novel insight about the role of acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors in SARS- CoV-2 infectivity. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:395. [PMID: 38321448 PMCID: PMC10848368 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17747-z] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants, caused > 6 million deaths. Symptoms included respiratory strain and complications, leading to severe pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 attaches to the ACE-2 receptor of the host cell membrane to enter. Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 entry may effectively inhibit infection. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is a lysosomal protein that catalyzes the conversion of sphingolipid (sphingomyelin) to ceramide. Ceramide molecules aggregate/assemble on the plasma membrane to form "platforms" that facilitate the viral intake into the cell. Impairing the ASMase activity will eventually disrupt viral entry into the cell. In this review, we identified the metabolism of sphingolipids, sphingolipids' role in cell signal transduction cascades, and viral infection mechanisms. Also, we outlined ASMase structure and underlying mechanisms inhibiting viral entry 40 with the aid of inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs). In silico molecular docking analyses of FIASMAs with inhibitors revealed that dilazep (S = - 12.58 kcal/mol), emetine (S = - 11.65 kcal/mol), pimozide (S = - 11.29 kcal/mol), carvedilol (S = - 11.28 kcal/mol), mebeverine (S = - 11.14 kcal/mol), cepharanthine (S = - 11.06 kcal/mol), hydroxyzin (S = - 10.96 kcal/mol), astemizole (S = - 10.81 kcal/mol), sertindole (S = - 10.55 kcal/mol), and bepridil (S = - 10.47 kcal/mol) have higher inhibition activity than the candidate drug amiodarone (S = - 10.43 kcal/mol), making them better options for inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Sami Alkafaas
- Molecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
| | - Abanoub Mosaad Abdallah
- Narcotic Research Department, National Center for Social and Criminological Research (NCSCR), Giza, 11561, Egypt
| | - Mai H Hassan
- Molecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Aya Misbah Hussien
- Biotechnology department at Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Sara Samy Elkafas
- Production Engineering and Mechanical Design Department, Faculty of Engineering, Menofia University, Menofia, Egypt
- Faculty of Control System and Robotics, ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, 197101, Russia
| | - Samah A Loutfy
- Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Nanotechnology Research Center, British University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abanoub Mikhail
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
- Faculty of Physics, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Omnia G Murad
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Mohamed I Elsalahaty
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hessien
- Molecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Rami M Elshazli
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Horus University - Egypt, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt
| | - Fatimah A Alsaeed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Muhayl, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani K Kamal
- Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wael Hafez
- NMC Royal Hospital, 16Th Street, 35233, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Medical Research Division, Department of Internal Medicine, The National Research Centre, 12622, 33 El Buhouth St, Ad Doqi, Dokki, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
| | - Mohamed T El-Saadony
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
| | - Khaled A El-Tarabily
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Soumya Ghosh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
- Natural & Medical Science Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
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Pauletto PJT, Delgado CP, da Rocha JBT. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) and COVID-19: A review of the potential use of ASM inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2. Cell Biochem Funct 2023; 41:284-295. [PMID: 36929117 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3789] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
In the last 2 years, different pharmacological agents have been indicated as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Specifically, drugs termed as functional inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs) have proved to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication using different types of cells. Those therapeutic agents share several chemical structure characteristics and some well-known representatives are fluoxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, and others. Most of the FIASMAs are primarily used as effective therapeutic agents to treat different pathologies, therefore, they are natural drug candidates for repositioning strategy. In this review, we summarize the two main proposed mechanisms mediating acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) inhibition and how they can explain the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication by FIASMAs. The first mechanism implies a disruption in the lysosomal pH fall as the endosome-lysosome moves toward the interior of the cell. In fact, changes in cholesterol levels in endosome-lysosome membranes, which are associated with ASM inhibition is thought to be mediated by lysosomal proton pump (ATP-ase) inactivation. The second mechanism involves the formation of an extracellular ceramide-rich domain, which is blocked by FIASMAs. The ceramide-rich domains are believed to facilitate the SARS-CoV-2 entrance into the host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro José Tronco Pauletto
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cassia Pereira Delgado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - João Batista Teixeira da Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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