Epigenetic targeting of the ACE2 and NRP1 viral receptors limits SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and neuropilin-1 (NRP1) receptors for entry into cells, and the serine protease TMPRSS2 for S protein priming. Inhibition of protease activity or the engagement with ACE2 and NRP1 receptors has been shown to be an effective strategy for blocking infectivity and viral spreading. Valproic acid (VPA; 2-propylpentanoic acid) is an epigenetic drug approved for clinical use. It produces potent antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects through its function as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Here, we propose VPA as a potential candidate to tackle COVID-19, in which rapid viral spread and replication, and hyperinflammation are crucial elements.

Results

We used diverse cell lines (HK-2, Huh-7, HUVEC, Caco-2, a

SUBMITTER: Saiz ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8504098 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature