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Foret-Lucas C, Figueroa T, Bertin A, Bessière P, Lucas A, Bergonnier D, Wasniewski M, Servat A, Tessier A, Lezoualc’h F, Volmer R. EPAC1 Pharmacological Inhibition with AM-001 Prevents SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A Virus Replication in Cells. Viruses 2023; 15:319. [PMID: 36851533 PMCID: PMC9965159 DOI: 10.3390/v15020319] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The exceptional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated an intense search for antiviral molecules. Host-targeted antiviral molecules have the potential of presenting broad-spectrum antiviral activity and are also considered as less likely to select for resistant viruses. In this study, we investigated the antiviral activity exerted by AM-001, a specific pharmacological inhibitor of EPAC1, a host exchange protein directly activated by cyclic AMP (cAMP). The cAMP-sensitive protein, EPAC1 regulates various physiological and pathological processes but its role in SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus infection has not yet been studied. Here, we provide evidence that the EPAC1 specific inhibitor AM-001 exerts potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in the human lung Calu-3 cell line and the African green monkey Vero cell line. We observed a concentration-dependent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infectious viral particles and viral RNA release in the supernatants of AM-001 treated cells that was not associated with a significant impact on cellular viability. Furthermore, we identified AM-001 as an inhibitor of influenza A virus in Calu-3 cells. Altogether these results identify EPAC1 inhibition as a promising therapeutic target against viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Foret-Lucas
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Figueroa
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Bertin
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Bessière
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, 31300 Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Lucas
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Université de Toulouse, UMR 1297-I2MC, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Dorian Bergonnier
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Université de Toulouse, UMR 1297-I2MC, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Marine Wasniewski
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Lyssavirus Unit, 54220 Malzéville, France
| | - Alexandre Servat
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Lyssavirus Unit, 54220 Malzéville, France
| | - Arnaud Tessier
- Nantes Université, CNRS, CEISAM, UMR 6230, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Frank Lezoualc’h
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, INSERM, Université de Toulouse, UMR 1297-I2MC, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Romain Volmer
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, 31300 Toulouse, France
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Sepúlveda CS, García CC, Damonte EB. Inhibitors of Nucleotide Biosynthesis as Candidates for a Wide Spectrum of Antiviral Chemotherapy. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1631. [PMID: 36014049 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging viruses have been a challenge in public health in recent decades. Host-targeted antivirals (HTA) directed at cellular molecules or pathways involved in virus multiplication represent an interesting strategy to combat viruses presently lacking effective chemotherapy. HTA could provide a wide range of agents with inhibitory activity against current and future viruses that share similar host requirements and reduce the possible selection of antiviral-resistant variants. Nucleotide metabolism is one of the more exploited host metabolic pathways as a potential antiviral target for several human viruses. This review focuses on the antiviral properties of the inhibitors of pyrimidine and purine nucleotide biosynthesis, with an emphasis on the rate-limiting enzymes dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) for which there are old and new drugs active against a broad spectrum of pathogenic viruses.
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Shearer J, Wolfe G, Sampath A, Warfield KL, Kaufman B, Ramstedt U, Treston A. Investigational New Drug Enabling Nonclinical Safety Pharmacology Assessment of the Iminosugar UV-4, a Broad-Spectrum Host-Targeted Antiviral Agent. Int J Toxicol 2022; 41:201-211. [PMID: 35227115 PMCID: PMC9156554 DOI: 10.1177/10915818211072842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
UV-4 (N-(9-methoxynonyl)-1-deoxynojirimycin) is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate with demonstrated activity in vitro and in vivo against multiple, diverse viruses. Nonclinical safety pharmacology studies were conducted to support the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Preliminary in vitro pharmacology testing evaluating potential for binding to "off-target" receptors and enzymes indicated no significant liability for advanced development of UV-4. The safety pharmacology of UV-4 was evaluated in the in vitro human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) assay, in a central nervous system (CNS) study in the mouse (modified Irwin test), in a respiratory safety study in conscious mice using whole body plethysmography, and in a cardiovascular safety study in conscious, radiotelemetry-instrumented beagle dogs. There were no observed adverse treatment-related effects following administration of UV-4 as the hydrochloride salt in the hERG potassium channel assay, on respiratory function, in the CNS study, or in the cardiovascular assessment. Treatment-related cardiovascular effect of decreased arterial pulse pressure after 50 or 200 mg of UV-4/kg was the only change outside the normal range, and all hemodynamic parameters returned to control levels by the end of the telemetry recording period. These nonclinical safety pharmacology assessments support the evaluation of this host-targeted broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffry Shearer
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, USA (previously Unither Virology LLC, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 USA)
| | - Gary Wolfe
- Gary Wolfe Toxicology, LLC, Herndon, Virginia, 20170, USA
| | - Aruna Sampath
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, USA (previously Unither Virology LLC, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 USA)
| | - Kelly L. Warfield
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, USA (previously Unither Virology LLC, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 USA)
| | - Brian Kaufman
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, USA (previously Unither Virology LLC, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 USA)
| | - Urban Ramstedt
- Emergent BioSolutions Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, USA (previously Unither Virology LLC, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 USA)
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Slaine PD, Kleer M, Duguay BA, Pringle ES, Kadijk E, Ying S, Balgi A, Roberge M, McCormick C, Khaperskyy DA. Thiopurines activate an antiviral unfolded protein response that blocks influenza A virus glycoprotein accumulation. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI. [PMID: 33762409 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00453-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) utilize host shutoff mechanisms to limit antiviral gene expression and redirect translation machinery to the synthesis of viral proteins. Previously, we showed that IAV replication is sensitive to protein synthesis inhibitors that block translation initiation and induce formation of cytoplasmic condensates of untranslated messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes called stress granules (SGs). In this study, using an image-based high-content screen, we identified two thiopurines, 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and 6-thioguanosine (6-TGo), that triggered SG formation in IAV-infected cells and blocked IAV replication in a dose-dependent manner without eliciting SG formation in uninfected cells. 6-TG and 6-TGo selectively disrupted the synthesis and maturation of IAV glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) without affecting the levels of the viral RNAs that encode them. By contrast, these thiopurines had minimal effect on other IAV proteins or the global host protein synthesis. Disruption of IAV glycoprotein accumulation by 6-TG and 6-TGo correlated with activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) sensors activating transcription factor-6 (ATF6), inositol requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1) and PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), leading to downstream UPR gene expression. Treatment of infected cells with the chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid diminished thiopurine-induced UPR activation and partially restored the processing and accumulation of HA and NA. By contrast, chemical inhibition of the integrated stress response downstream of PERK restored accumulation of NA monomers but did not restore processing of viral glycoproteins. Genetic deletion of PERK enhanced the antiviral effect of 6-TG without causing overt cytotoxicity, suggesting that while UPR activation correlates with diminished viral glycoprotein accumulation, PERK could limit the antiviral effects of drug-induced ER stress. Taken together, these data indicate that 6-TG and 6-TGo are effective host-targeted antivirals that trigger the UPR and selectively disrupt accumulation of viral glycoproteins.IMPORTANCESecreted and transmembrane proteins are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where they are folded and modified prior to transport. Many viruses rely on the ER for the synthesis and processing of viral glycoproteins that will ultimately be incorporated into viral envelopes. Viral burden on the ER can trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR). Much remains to be learned about how viruses co-opt the UPR to ensure efficient synthesis of viral glycoproteins. Here, we show that two FDA-approved thiopurine drugs, 6-TG and 6-TGo, induce the UPR, which represents a previously unrecognized effect of these drugs on cell physiology. This thiopurine-mediated UPR activation blocks influenza virus replication by impeding viral glycoprotein accumulation. Our findings suggest that 6-TG and 6-TGo may have broad antiviral effect against enveloped viruses that require precise tuning of the UPR to support viral glycoprotein synthesis.
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