Liu Shen capsule shows antiviral and anti-inflammatory abilities against novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 via suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Qinhai; Pan, Weiqi; Li, Runfeng; Liu, Bin; Li, Chufang; Xie, Yuqi; Wang, Zhoulang; Zhao, Jin; Jiang, Haiming; Huang, Jicheng; Shi, Yongxia; Dai, Jun; Zheng, Kui; Li, Xiaobo; Yang, Zifeng
• Is Part Of: Pharmacological research. Volume 158(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: LS Liu Shen capsule -- TCM traditional Chinese medicine -- SARS-CoV severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus -- MERS-CoV Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus -- SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 -- TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-α -- IL-1β interleukin-1beta -- IL-6 interleukin-6 -- IL-8 interleukin-8 -- CCL-2/MCP-1 monocyte chemoattracctant protein-1 -- CXCL-10/IP-10 interferon-inducible protein-10 -- VERO E6 cells monkey kidney cell line -- G-CSF granulocyte colony-stimulating factor -- MIP1a recombinant macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha -- TC50 50 % toxicity concentration -- EC50 50 % effective concentration -- MTT methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium -- TCID50 100 × 50 % tissue culture infective dose -- FBS foetal bovine serum -- GAPDH glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase -- PBS phosphate-buffered saline -- HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography -- CPE cytopathic effect -- RT-PCR real-time polymerase chain reaction -- COVID-19 2019 coronavirus disease -- MOI multiplicity of infection -- DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide; Liu Shen capsule -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Antiviral -- Anti-inflammatory; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Médicaments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Pharmacologie -- Périodiques; 615.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104850
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-6618

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide through person-to-person contact, causing a public health emergency of international concern. At present, there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Liu Shen capsule (LS), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been proven to have a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities. However, little is known about the antiviral effect of LS against SARS-CoV-2. Herein, the study was designed to investigate the antiviral activity of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential effect in regulating the host's immune response. The inhibitory effect of LS against SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells was evaluated by using the cytopathic effect (CPE) and plaque reduction assay. The number of virions of SARS-CoV-2 was observed under transmission electron microscope after treatment with LS. Proinflammatory cytokine expression levels upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in Huh-7 cells were measured by real-time quantitative PCR assays. The results showed that LS could significantly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells, and reduce the number of virus particles and it could markedly reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, CCL-2/MCP-1 and CXCL-10/IP-10) production at the mRNA levels. Moreover, the expression of the key proteins in the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway was detected by western blot and it was found that LS could inhibit the expression of p-NF-κB p65, p-IκBα and p-p38 MAPK, while increasing the expression of IκBα. These findings indicate that LS could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus infection via downregulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines induced virus and regulating the activity of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway in vitro, making its promising candidate treatment for controlling COVID-19 disease.