bioRxiv. 2020 Aug 14:2020.08.13.250217. doi: 10.1101/2020.08.13.250217. Preprint.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently causing a worldwide pandemic. Potential drugs identified for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection include chloroquine (CQ), its derivative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and the anesthetic propofol. Their mechanism of action in SARS-CoV-2 infection is poorly understood. Recently, anesthetics, both general and local, were shown to disrupt ordered lipid domains. These same lipid domains recruit the SARS-CoV-2 surface receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to an endocytic entry point and their disruption by cholesterol depletion decreases ACE2 recruitment and viral entry.
METHODS: Viral entry was determined using a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus (SARS2-PV) and a luciferase reporter gene expressed by the virus after treatment of the cells with 50 μM propofol, tetracaine, HCQ, and erythromycin. HCQ disruption of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside1 (GM1) lipid rafts, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) domains, and ACE2 receptor at nanoscale distances was monitored by direct stochastic reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM). Cells were fixed, permeabilized, and then labeled with either fluorescent cholera toxin B (CTxB) or antibody and then fixed again prior to imaging. Cluster analysis of dSTORM images was used to determine size and number and cross pair correlation was used to determine trafficking of endogenously expressed ACE2 in and out of lipid domains.
RESULTS: Propofol, tetracaine, and HCQ inhibit SARS2-PV viral entry. HCQ directly perturbs both GM1 lipid rafts and PIP 2 domains. GM1 rafts increased in size and number similar to anesthetic disruption of lipid rafts; PIP 2 domains decreased in size and number. HCQ blocked both GM1 and PIP 2 domains ability to attract and cluster ACE2.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude HCQ is an anesthetic-like compound that disrupts GM1 lipid rafts similar to propofol and other local or general anesthetics. Furthermore, we conclude disruption of GM1 raft function, and not the concentration of GM1 raft molecules, governs the antiviral properties of HCQ. HCQ disruption of the membrane appears to also disrupt the production of host defense peptide, hence an antimicrobial such as erythromycin could be an important combined treatment. Nonetheless erythromycin has anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and may combine with HCQ to reduce infection.
KEY POINTS: Question: What is the molecular basis for antiviral activity of hydroxychloroquine and propofol? Findings: Hydroxychloroquine disrupt lipid rafts similar to local and general anesthetics. Meaning: Since lipids cluster ACE2 and facilitate viral entry, hydroxychloroquine and anesthetics appear to inhibit viral entry by disrupting the lipid clustering and ACE2 localization.
PMID:32817933 | PMC:PMC7430563 | DOI:10.1101/2020.08.13.250217