tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Cell Rep
. 2020 Sep 23;108254.
doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108254. Online ahead of print.
Furin Inhibitors Block SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Cleavage to Suppress Virus Production and Cytopathic Effects
Ya-Wen Cheng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tai-Ling Chao[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chiao-Ling Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mu-Fan Chiu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Han-Chieh Kao[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sheng-Han Wang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yu-Hao Pang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chih-Hui Lin[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ya-Min Tsai[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Wen-Hau Lee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mi-Hua Tao[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Tung-Ching Ho[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ping-Yi Wu[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Li-Ting Jang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pei-Jer Chen[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sui-Yuan Chang[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Shiou-Hwei Yeh[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Development of specific antiviral agents is an urgent unmet need for SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This study focuses on host proteases that proteolytically activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, critical for its fusion after binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as antiviral targets. We first validate cleavage at a putative furin substrate motif at SARS-CoV-2 spikes by expressing it in VeroE6 cells and find prominent syncytium formation. Cleavage and the syncytium are abolished by treatment with the furin inhibitors decanoyl-RVKR-chloromethylketone (CMK) and naphthofluorescein, but not by the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) inhibitor camostat. CMK and naphthofluorescein show antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2-infected cells by decreasing virus production and cytopathic effects. Further analysis reveals that, similar to camostat, CMK blocks virus entry, but it further suppresses cleavage of spikes and the syncytium. Naphthofluorescein acts primarily by suppressing viral RNA transcription. Therefore, furin inhibitors may be promising antiviral agents for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; cytopathic effect; furin; spike; syncytium.
. 2020 Sep 23;108254.
doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108254. Online ahead of print.
Furin Inhibitors Block SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Cleavage to Suppress Virus Production and Cytopathic Effects
Ya-Wen Cheng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Tai-Ling Chao[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chiao-Ling Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mu-Fan Chiu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Han-Chieh Kao[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Sheng-Han Wang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yu-Hao Pang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chih-Hui Lin[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ya-Min Tsai[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Wen-Hau Lee[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mi-Hua Tao[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Tung-Ching Ho[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ping-Yi Wu[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Li-Ting Jang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pei-Jer Chen[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sui-Yuan Chang[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Shiou-Hwei Yeh[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33007239
- DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108254
Abstract
Development of specific antiviral agents is an urgent unmet need for SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This study focuses on host proteases that proteolytically activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, critical for its fusion after binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as antiviral targets. We first validate cleavage at a putative furin substrate motif at SARS-CoV-2 spikes by expressing it in VeroE6 cells and find prominent syncytium formation. Cleavage and the syncytium are abolished by treatment with the furin inhibitors decanoyl-RVKR-chloromethylketone (CMK) and naphthofluorescein, but not by the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) inhibitor camostat. CMK and naphthofluorescein show antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2-infected cells by decreasing virus production and cytopathic effects. Further analysis reveals that, similar to camostat, CMK blocks virus entry, but it further suppresses cleavage of spikes and the syncytium. Naphthofluorescein acts primarily by suppressing viral RNA transcription. Therefore, furin inhibitors may be promising antiviral agents for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; cytopathic effect; furin; spike; syncytium.