Open AccessA systems‐level study reveals host‐targeted repurposable drugs against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Author(s) -
Chen Fangyuan,
Shi Qingya,
Pei Fen,
Vogt Andreas,
Porritt Rebecca A,
Garcia Gustavo,
Gomez Angela C,
Cheng Mary Hongying,
Schurdak Mark E,
Liu Bing,
Chan Stephen Y,
Arumugaswami Vaithilingaraja,
Stern Andrew M,
Taylor D Lansing,
Arditi Moshe,
Bahar Ivet
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
molecular systems biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.523
H-Index - 148
ISSN - 1744-4292
DOI - 10.15252/msb.202110239
Subject(s) - medical school , library science , gerontology , medicine , medical education , computer science
Understanding the mechanism of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and identifying potential therapeutics are global imperatives. Using a quantitative systems pharmacology approach, we identified a set of repurposable and investigational drugs as potential therapeutics against COVID‐19. These were deduced from the gene expression signature of SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected A549 cells screened against Connectivity Map and prioritized by network proximity analysis with respect to disease modules in the viral–host interactome. We also identified immuno‐modulating compounds aiming at suppressing hyperinflammatory responses in severe COVID‐19 patients, based on the transcriptome of ACE2‐overexpressing A549 cells. Experiments with Vero‐E6 cells infected by SARS‐CoV‐2, as well as independent syncytia formation assays for probing ACE2/SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein‐mediated cell fusion using HEK293T and Calu‐3 cells, showed that several predicted compounds had inhibitory activities. Among them, salmeterol, rottlerin, and mTOR inhibitors exhibited antiviral activities in Vero‐E6 cells; imipramine, linsitinib, hexylresorcinol, ezetimibe, and brompheniramine impaired viral entry. These novel findings provide new paths for broadening the repertoire of compounds pursued as therapeutics against COVID‐19.