Topical TMPRSS2 inhibition prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection in differentiated human airway cultures.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are limited effective prophylactic/early treatments for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Viral entry requires spike protein binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor and cleavage by transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), a cell surface serine protease. Targeting of TMPRSS2 by either androgen blockade or direct inhibition is in clinical trials in early SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

We used differentiated primary human airway epithelial cells at the air-liquid interface to test the impact of targeting TMPRSS2 on the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results

We first modelled the systemic delivery of compounds. Enzalutamide, an oral androgen receptor antagonist, had no impact on SARS-CoV-2 infect

SUBMITTER: Guo W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8814636 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature