학술논문

TOP1 inhibition therapy protects against SARS-CoV-2-induced lethal inflammation.
Document Type
article
Source
Cell. 184(10)
Subject
Vero Cells
Animals
Mice
Transgenic
Humans
Mesocricetus
Mice
Inflammation
Topotecan
DNA Topoisomerases
Type I
Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
THP-1 Cells
Chlorocebus aethiops
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
chromatin
cytokine storm
epigenetics
inducible genes
inflammation
topoisomerase
topotecan
transcription
Biological Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences
Developmental Biology
Language
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently affecting millions of lives worldwide. Large retrospective studies indicate that an elevated level of inflammatory cytokines and pro-inflammatory factors are associated with both increased disease severity and mortality. Here, using multidimensional epigenetic, transcriptional, in vitro, and in vivo analyses, we report that topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibition suppresses lethal inflammation induced by SARS-CoV-2. Therapeutic treatment with two doses of topotecan (TPT), an FDA-approved TOP1 inhibitor, suppresses infection-induced inflammation in hamsters. TPT treatment as late as 4 days post-infection reduces morbidity and rescues mortality in a transgenic mouse model. These results support the potential of TOP1 inhibition as an effective host-directed therapy against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. TPT and its derivatives are inexpensive clinical-grade inhibitors available in most countries. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of repurposing TOP1 inhibitors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans.