Nanomedicine for treating post-viral infectious disease syndrome is at an emerging stage. Despite promising results from preclinical studies on conventional antioxidants, their clinical translation as a therapy for treating post-COVID conditions remains challenging. The limitations are due to their low bioavailability, instability, limited transport to the target tissues, and short half-life, requiring frequent and high doses. Activating the immune system during coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection can lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), depleted antioxidant reserve, and finally, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. To tackle this problem, we developed an antioxidant nanotherapy based on lipid (vesicular and cubosomal types) nanoparticles (LNPs) co-encapsulating ginkgolide B and quercetin. The antioxidant-loaded nanocarriers were prepared by a self-assembly method via hydration of a lyophilized mixed thin lipid film. We evaluated the LNPs in a new in vitro model for studying neuronal dysfunction caused by oxidative stress in coronavirus infection. We examined the key downstream signaling pathways that are triggered in response to potassium persulfate (KPS) causing oxidative stress-mediated neurotoxicity. Treatment of neuronally-derived cells (SH-SY5Y) with KPS (50 mM) for 30 min markedly increased mitochondrial dysfunction while depleting the levels of both glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). This led to the sequential activation of apoptotic and necrotic cell death processes, which corroborates with the crucial implication of the two proteins (GSH-Px and TH) in the long-COVID syndrome. Nanomedicine-mediated treatment with ginkgolide B-loaded cubosomes and vesicular LNPs showed minimal cytotoxicity and completely attenuated the KPS-induced cell death process, decreasing apoptosis from 32.6% (KPS) to 19.0% (MO-GB), 12.8% (MO-GB-Quer), 14.8% (DMPC-PEG-GB), and 23.6% (DMPC-PEG-GB-Quer) via free radical scavenging and replenished GSH-Px levels. These findings indicated that GB-LNPs-based nanomedicines may protect against KPS-induced apoptosis by regulating intracellular redox homeostasis.
- MeSH
- antioxidancia * farmakologie MeSH
- COVID-19 metabolismus MeSH
- farmakoterapie COVID-19 * MeSH
- ginkgolidy * farmakologie MeSH
- glutathionperoxidasa * metabolismus MeSH
- laktony farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nanočástice * MeSH
- nanomedicína * metody MeSH
- neurony účinky léků virologie MeSH
- oxidační stres * účinky léků MeSH
- quercetin farmakologie MeSH
- reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Cathepsin L is a key host cysteine protease utilized by coronaviruses for cell entry and is a promising drug target for novel antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. The marine natural product gallinamide A and several synthetic analogues were identified as potent inhibitors of cathepsin L with IC50 values in the picomolar range. Lead molecules possessed selectivity over other cathepsins and alternative host proteases involved in viral entry. Gallinamide A directly interacted with cathepsin L in cells and, together with two lead analogues, potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, with EC50 values in the nanomolar range. Reduced antiviral activity was observed in cells overexpressing transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2); however, a synergistic improvement in antiviral activity was achieved when combined with a TMPRSS2 inhibitor. These data highlight the potential of cathepsin L as a COVID-19 drug target as well as the likely need to inhibit multiple routes of viral entry to achieve efficacy.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- biologické přípravky chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- buňky A549 MeSH
- Cercopithecus aethiops MeSH
- COVID-19 metabolismus MeSH
- farmakoterapie COVID-19 MeSH
- inhibitory cysteinových proteinas chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- kathepsin L antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus MeSH
- kationické antimikrobiální peptidy chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- molekulární konformace MeSH
- proteomika MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků MeSH
- Vero buňky MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
One of the officially approved medications for the treatment of the pandemic disease COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is remdesivir. This antiviral mole-cule is a prodrug that is metabolized into its active form (an ATP analogue). Because of its hepatotoxicity and ne-phrotoxicity, it is necessary to monitor the serum concen-trations of remdesivir. For the therapeutic drug monitoring of remdesivir, a method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in positive elec-trospray ionization mode was developed. Mass detection was done via triple quadrupole in the Multiple reaction monitoring mode. Separation was done on Zorbax C18 column at 35 °C in mobile phase gradient and flow 0.4mLmin–1(A –0.1% formic acid in water, B –0.1% formic acid in 95% acetonitrile). Time of analysis was 4minutes. LC-MS/MS method was successfully validated. Calibration was done in blood serum and plasma and it was linear in the range of tested concentrations (0–1000 ngmL–1). Samples were prepared by protein precipitation. The method was used to measure remdesivir concentration in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The measured concentration 60 minutes after remdesivir application was 175±15 ngmL–1.
- Klíčová slova
- remdesivir,
- MeSH
- antivirové látky * analýza farmakokinetika krev MeSH
- chromatografie kapalinová metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- monitorování léčiv metody přístrojové vybavení MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků MeSH
- tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie metody MeSH
- výzkumný projekt MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 urgently demands novel direct antiviral treatments. The main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) are attractive drug targets among coronaviruses due to their essential role in processing the polyproteins translated from the viral RNA. In this study, we virtually screened 688 naphthoquinoidal compounds and derivatives against Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. Twenty-four derivatives were selected and evaluated in biochemical assays against Mpro using a novel fluorogenic substrate. In parallel, these compounds were also assayed with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. Four compounds inhibited Mpro with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values between 0.41 μM and 9.0 μM. In addition, three compounds inhibited PLpro with IC50 ranging from 1.9 μM to 3.3 μM. To verify the specificity of Mpro and PLpro inhibitors, our experiments included an assessment of common causes of false positives such as aggregation, high compound fluorescence, and inhibition by enzyme oxidation. Altogether, we confirmed novel classes of specific Mpro and PLpro inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest stable binding modes for Mpro inhibitors with frequent interactions with residues in the S1 and S2 pockets of the active site. For two PLpro inhibitors, interactions occur in the S3 and S4 pockets. In summary, our structure-based computational and biochemical approach identified novel naphthoquinonal scaffolds that can be further explored as SARS-CoV-2 antivirals.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- COVID-19 MeSH
- inhibitory proteas * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- koronavirové proteasy 3C * antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- koronavirové proteasy podobné papainu * antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- naftochinony * chemie farmakologie MeSH
- papain MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 * účinky léků enzymologie MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
For coronaviruses, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is an essential enzyme that catalyses the replication from RNA template and therefore remains an attractive therapeutic target for anti-COVID drug discovery. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive in silico screening for 16,776 potential molecules from recently established drug libraries based on two important pharmacophores (3-amino-4-phenylbutan-2-ol and piperazine). Based on initial assessment, 4042 molecules were obtained suitable as drug candidates, which were following Lipinski's rule. Molecular docking implemented for the analysis of molecular interactions narrowed this number of compounds down to 19. Subsequent to screening filtering criteria and considering the critical parameters viz. docking score and MM-GBSA binding free energy, 1-(4-((2S,3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyl)piperazin-1-yl)-3-phenylurea (compound 1) was accomplished to score highest in comparison to the remaining 18 shortlisted drug candidates. Notably, compound 1 displayed higher docking score (-8.069 kcal/mol) and MM-GBSA binding free energy (-49.56 kcal/mol) than the control drug, remdesivir triphosphate, the active form of remdesivir as well as adenosine triphosphate. Furthermore, a molecular dynamics simulation was carried out (100 ns), which substantiated the candidacy of compound 1 as better inhibitor. Overall, our systematic in silico study predicts the potential of compound 1 to exhibit a more favourable specific activity than remdesivir triphosphate. Hence, we suggest compound 1 as a novel potential drug candidate, which should be considered for further exploration and validation of its potential against SARS-CoV-2 in wet lab experimental studies.Communicated by Ramasawamy H. Sarma.
Epidémia infekcie SARS-CoV-2 priniesla zásadné zmeny do života vo všetkých populácií vo svete a tiež do liečby viacerých stavov v klinickej praxi. Táto zmena sa týka aj ochorenia diabetes mellitus. Metformín ako liek prvej voľby v tejto skupine pacientov zaznamenal v kontexte COVID-19 niektoré súvislosti uvedené v nasledujúcom článku, ktoré sú užitočné aj pre bežnú klinickú prax.
Epidemy of SARS-CoV-2 infection changed life of all populations in the world and as well as the therapy of diseases in daily clinical praxis. These changes affected also diabetes mellitus. Metformin as the first-line treatment in this group of patients was also influenced with COVID -19. This is the topic of this paper in context of daily clinical practice.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- diabetes mellitus farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metformin * farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
Medicína v dobe pandémie SARS-CoV-2 našu klinickú prax postavila pred celkom nové problémy. Jedným z nich predstavujú aj riziká pre toto infekčné ochoreníe. Okrem všeobecne známych rizík, ako je vek a komorbidity, sa ukázala byť dôležitá aj trvajúca zavedená liečba pacientov. V tomto kontexte je potrebné sa zamerať na jednu skupinu liekov vo farmakoterapii – PPI, nakoľko sa jedná o veľmi častú liečbu v klinickej praxi všade vo svete. Diskusie o tejto liečbe sa s poznatkami vyvíjajú a stále pokračujú.
In the time of SARS-CoV-2 pandemy medicine brought quite new problems for the current clinical practice. One of these are risks for this infectious disease. Beside known risks as are age and comorbidities of importance is continu- ing long lasting drug therapy. PPI as a group is often used in the pharmacotherapy nowadays all over the world. Dis- cussions of this therapy are still developing and ongoing.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * komplikace MeSH
- inhibitory protonové pumpy * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
Viral proteases are indispensable for successful virion maturation, thus making them a prominent drug target. Their enzyme activity is tightly spatiotemporally regulated by expression in the precursor form with little or no activity, followed by activation via autoprocessing. These cleavage events are frequently triggered upon transportation to a specific compartment inside the host cell. Typically, precursor oligomerization or the presence of a co-factor is needed for activation. A detailed understanding of these mechanisms will allow ligands with non-canonical mechanisms of action to be designed, which would specifically modulate the initial irreversible steps of viral protease autoactivation. Binding sites exclusive to the precursor, including binding sites beyond the protease domain, can be exploited. Both inhibition and up-regulation of the proteolytic activity of viral proteases can be detrimental for the virus. All these possibilities are discussed using examples of medically relevant viruses including herpesviruses, adenoviruses, retroviruses, picornaviruses, caliciviruses, togaviruses, flaviviruses, and coronaviruses.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky farmakologie MeSH
- Flavivirus účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- Herpesviridae účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- HIV-1 účinky léků MeSH
- inhibitory virových proteáz farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lidské adenoviry účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- virové nemoci farmakoterapie MeSH
- virové proteasy biosyntéza metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
