scholarly journals Analysis of the efficacy of HIV protease inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2′s main protease

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Mahdi ◽  
János András Mótyán ◽  
Zsófia Ilona Szojka ◽  
Mária Golda ◽  
Márió Miczi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Viral Protease ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Depth Analysis

Abstract Background The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in millions of infections worldwide. While the search for an effective antiviral is still ongoing, experimental therapies based on repurposing of available antivirals is being attempted, of which HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) have gained considerable interest. Inhibition profiling of the PIs directly against the viral protease has never been attempted in vitro, and while few studies reported an efficacy of lopinavir and ritonavir in SARS-CoV-2 context, the mechanism of action of the drugs remains to be validated. Methods We carried out an in-depth analysis of the efficacy of HIV PIs against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) in cell culture and in vitro enzymatic assays, using a methodology that enabled us to focus solely on any potential inhibitory effects of the inhibitors against the viral protease. For cell culture experiments a dark-to-bright GFP reporter substrate system was designed. Results Lopinavir, ritonavir, darunavir, saquinavir, and atazanavir were able to inhibit the viral protease in cell culture, albeit in concentrations much higher than their achievable plasma levels, given their current drug formulations. While inhibition by lopinavir was attributed to its cytotoxicity, ritonavir was the most effective of the panel, with IC50 of 13.7 µM. None of the inhibitors showed significant inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in our in vitro enzymatic assays up to 100 µM concentration. Conclusion Targeting of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro by some of the HIV PIs might be of limited clinical potential, given the high concentration of the drugs required to achieve significant inhibition. Therefore, given their weak inhibition of the viral protease, any potential beneficial effect of the PIs in COVID-19 context might perhaps be attributed to acting on other molecular target(s), rather than SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.

scholarly journals Analysis of the efficacy of HIV protease inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2’s main protease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
mohamed mahdi ◽  
János András Mótyán ◽  
Zsófia Ilona Szojka ◽  
Mária Golda ◽  
Márió Miczi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Viral Protease ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Depth Analysis

Abstract BackgroundThe pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in millions of infections worldwide. While the search for an effective antiviral is still ongoing, experimental therapies based on repurposing of available antivirals is being attempted, of which HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) have gained considerable interest. Inhibition profiling of the PIs directly against the viral protease has never been attempted in vitro, and while few studies reported an efficacy of lopinavir and ritonavir in SARS-CoV-2 context, the mechanism of action of the drugs remains to be validated. MethodsWe carried out an in-depth analysis of the efficacy of HIV PIs against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) in cell culture and in vitro enzymatic assays, using a methodology that enabled us to focus solely on any potential inhibitory effects of the inhibitors against the viral protease. For cell culture experiments a dark-to-bright GFP reporter substrate system was designed.ResultsLopinavir, ritonavir, darunavir, saquinavir, and atazanavir were able to inhibit the viral protease in cell culture, albeit in concentrations much higher than their achievable plasma levels, given their current drug formulations. While inhibition by lopinavir was attributed to its cytotoxicity, ritonavir was the most effective of the panel, with IC50 of 13.7 µM. None of the inhibitors showed significant inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in our in vitro enzymatic assays up to 100 µM concentration. ConclusionTargeting of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro by some of the HIV PIs might be of limited clinical potential, given the high concentration of the drugs required to achieve significant inhibition. Therefore, given their weak inhibition of the viral protease, any potential beneficial effect of the PIs in COVID-19 context might perhaps be attributed to acting on other molecular target(s), rather than SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.

scholarly journals Analysis of the efficacy of HIV protease inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2’s main protease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
mohamed mahdi ◽  
János András Mótyán ◽  
Zsófia Ilona Szojka ◽  
Mária Golda ◽  
Márió Miczi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Viral Protease ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Depth Analysis

Abstract Background The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in millions of infections worldwide. While the search for an effective antiviral is still ongoing, experimental therapies based on repurposing of available antivirals is being attempted, of which HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) have gained considerable interest. Inhibition profiling of the PIs directly against the viral protease has never been attempted in vitro, and while few studies reported an efficacy of lopinavir and ritonavir in SARS-CoV-2 context, the mechanism of action of the drugs remains to be validated. Methods We carried out an in-depth analysis of the efficacy of HIV PIs against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) in cell culture and in vitro enzymatic assays, using a methodology that enabled us to focus solely on any potential inhibitory effects of the inhibitors against the viral protease. Results Lopinavir, ritonavir, darunavir, saquinavir, and atazanavir were able to inhibit the viral protease in cell culture, albeit in concentrations much higher than their achievable plasma levels, given their current drug formulations. While inhibition by lopinavir was attributed to its cytotoxicity, ritonavir was the most effective of the panel, with IC50 of 13.7 µM. Atazanavir on the other hand was the only PI to inhibit the viral protease both in cell culture and in our in vitro enzymatic assay. Conclusion Targeting of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro by some of the HIV PIs might be of limited clinical potential, given the high concentration of the drugs required to achieve significant inhibition. Therefore, given their weak inhibition of the viral protease, any potential beneficial effect of the PIs in COVID-19 context might perhaps be attributed to acting on other molecular target(s), rather than SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.

scholarly journals Direct Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitors on Neutrophil Function and Apoptosis via Calpain Inhibition

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1515-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurit Hadad ◽  
Rachel Levy ◽  
Francisc Schlaeffer ◽  
Klaris Riesenberg
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Neutrophil Function ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Calpain Activity ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT Impairment of neutrophil functions and high levels of apoptotic neutrophils have been reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the direct in vitro effects of the different HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) on neutrophil functions and apoptosis and to explore their mechanisms of action. The effects of nelfinavir (NFV), saquinavir (SQV), lopinavir (LPV), ritonavir (RTV), and amprenavir (APV) in the range of 5 to 100 μg/ml on neutrophil function, apoptosis, and μ-calpain activity were studied. The neutrophil functions studied included superoxide production stimulated by 5 ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate, 5 × 10−7 M N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, and 1 mg/ml opsonized zymosan; specific chemotaxis; random migration; and phagocytosis. Apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation, fluorescein isothiocyanate-annexin V binding, and nuclear morphology. All three neutrophil functions, as well as apoptosis, were similarly affected by the PIs. SQV and NFV caused marked inhibition and LPV and RTV caused moderate inhibition, while APV had a minor effect. μ-Calpain activity was not affected by the PIs in neutrophil lysate but was inhibited after its translocation to the membranes after cell stimulation. SQV, which was the most potent inhibitor of neutrophil functions and apoptosis, caused significant inhibition of calpain activity, while APV had no effect. The similar patterns of inhibition of neutrophil functions and apoptosis by the PIs, which coincided with inhibition of calpain activity, suggest the involvement of calpain activity in the regulation of these processes.

IN VITRO INHIBITION OF UDP GLUCURONOSYLTRANSFERASES BY ATAZANAVIR AND OTHER HIV PROTEASE INHIBITORS AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY TO IN VIVO BILIRUBIN GLUCURONIDATION

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (11) ◽  
pp. 1729-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donglu Zhang ◽  
Theodore J. Chando ◽  
Donald W. Everett ◽  
Christopher J. Patten ◽  
Shangara S. Dehal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
In Vitro Inhibition ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Atazanavir Signature I50L Resistance Substitution Accounts for Unique Phenotype of Increased Susceptibility to Other Protease Inhibitors in a Variety of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Genetic Backbones

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 3816-3824 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Weinheimer ◽  
L. Discotto ◽  
J. Friborg ◽  
H. Yang ◽  
R. Colonno
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Protease Inhibition ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

ABSTRACT Substitution of leucine for isoleucine at residue 50 (I50L) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease is the signature substitution for atazanavir (ATV) resistance. A unique phenotypic profile has been associated with viruses containing the I50L substitution, which produces ATV-specific resistance and increased susceptibility to most other approved HIV protease inhibitors (PIs). The basis for this unique phenotype has not been clearly elucidated. In this report, a direct effect of I50L on the susceptibility to the PI class is described. Cell-based protease assays using wild-type and PI-resistant proteases from laboratory and clinical isolates and in vitro antiviral assays were used to demonstrate a strong concordance between changes in PI susceptibility at the level of protease inhibition and changes in susceptibility observed at the level of virus infection. The results show that the induction of ATV resistance and increased susceptibility to other PIs by the I50L substitution is likely determined at the level of protease inhibition. Moreover, the I50L substitution functions to increase PI susceptibility even in the presence of other primary and secondary PI resistance substitutions. These findings may have implications regarding the optimal sequencing of PI therapies necessary to preserve PI treatment options of patients with ATV-resistant HIV infections.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document