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Peptidomimetic inhibitors of TMPRSS2 block SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture.

ABSTRACT: The transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) primes the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein for host cell entry and represents a promising target for COVID-19 therapy. Here we describe the in silico development and in vitro characterization of peptidomimetic TMPRSS2 inhibitors. Molecular docking studies identified peptidomimetic binders of the TMPRSS2 catalytic site, which were synthesized and coupled to an electrophilic serine trap. The compounds inhibit TMPRSS2 while demonstrating good off-target selectivity against selected coagulation proteases. Lead candidates are stable in blood serum and plasma for at least ten days. Finally, we show that selected peptidomimetics inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Spike-driven pseudovirus entry and authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection with comparable efficacy as camostat mesylate. The peptidomimetic TMPRSS2 inhibitors also prevent entry of recent SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern Delta and Omicron BA.1. In sum, our study reports antivirally active and stable TMPRSS2 inhibitors with prospects for further preclinical and clinical development as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 and other TMPRSS2-dependent viruses.

SUBMITTER: Wettstein L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9270327 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Peptidomimetic inhibitors of TMPRSS2 block SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture.

Wettstein Lukas L Knaff Philip Maximilian PM Kersten Christian C Müller Patrick P Weil Tatjana T Conzelmann Carina C Müller Janis A JA Brückner Maximilian M Hoffmann Markus M Pöhlmann Stefan S Schirmeister Tanja T Landfester Katharina K Münch Jan J Mailänder Volker V

Communications biology 20220708 1

The transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) primes the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein for host cell entry and represents a promising target for COVID-19 therapy. Here we describe the in silico development and in vitro characterization of peptidomimetic TMPRSS2 inhibitors. Molecular docking studies identified peptidomimetic binders of the TMPRSS2 catalytic site, which were synthesized and coupled to an electrophilic serine trap. The compounds inhibit TMPRSS2 while demonstrating good off-target se ...[more]

PMID: 35804152

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Project description:Repurposing FDA-approved inhibitors able to prevent infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could provide a rapid path to establish new therapeutic options to mitigate the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Proteolytic cleavages of the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2, mediated by the host cell proteases cathepsin and TMPRSS2, alone or in combination, are key early activation steps required for efficient infection. The PIKfyve kinase inhibitor apilimod interferes with late endosomal viral traffic and through an ill-defined mechanism prevents in vitro infection through late endosomes mediated by cathepsin. Similarly, inhibition of TMPRSS2 protease activity by camostat mesylate or nafamostat mesylate prevents infection mediated by the TMPRSS2-dependent and cathepsin-independent pathway. Here, we combined the use of apilimod with camostat mesylate or nafamostat mesylate and found an unexpected ∼5- to 10-fold increase in their effectiveness to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in different cell types. Comparable synergism was observed using both a chimeric vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) containing S of SARS-CoV-2 (VSV-SARS-CoV-2) and SARS-CoV-2. The substantial ∼5-fold or higher decrease of the half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50s) suggests a plausible treatment strategy based on the combined use of these inhibitors. IMPORTANCE Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) global pandemic. There are ongoing efforts to uncover effective antiviral agents that could mitigate the severity of the disease by controlling the ensuing viral replication. Promising candidates include small molecules that inhibit the enzymatic activities of host proteins, thus preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry and infection. They include apilimod, an inhibitor of PIKfyve kinase, and camostat mesylate and nafamostat mesylate, inhibitors of TMPRSS2 protease. Our research is significant for having uncovered an unexpected synergism in the effective inhibitory activity of apilimod used together with camostat mesylate or nafamostat mesylate.

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Peptidomimetic inhibitors of TMPRSS2 block SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture.

Publications

Peptidomimetic inhibitors of TMPRSS2 block SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture.

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