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  • Cathepsin inhibitors nitroxoline and its derivatives inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection
    Bonotto, R. Milan ...
    The severity of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the recurring (re)emergence of viruses prompted the development of new therapeutic approaches that target viral and host factors crucial for viral ... infection. Among them, host peptidases cathepsins B and L have been described as essential enzymes during SARS-CoV-2 entry. In this study, we evaluated the effect of potent selective cathepsin inhibitors as antiviral agents. We demonstrated that selective cathepsin B inhibitors, such as the antimicrobial agent nitroxoline and its derivatives, impair SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Antiviral activity observed at early stage of virus entry was cell-type dependent and correlated well with the intracellular content and enzymatic function of cathepsins B or L. Furthermore, tested inhibitors were effective against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 D614 as well as against the more recent BA.1_4 (Omicron). Taken together, our results highlight the important role of host cysteine cathepsin B in SARS-CoV-2 virus entry and show that cathepsin-specific inhibitors, such as nitroxoline and its derivatives, could be used to treat COVID-19. Finally, these results also suggest that nitroxoline has potential to be further explored as repurposed drug in antiviral therapy.
    Source: Antiviral research. - ISSN 0166-3542 (Vol. 216, 2023, 12 str.)
    Type of material - article, component part ; adult, serious
    Publish date - 2023
    Language - english
    COBISS.SI-ID - 156890115

source: Antiviral research. - ISSN 0166-3542 (Vol. 216, 2023, 12 str.)

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