The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need to develop effective therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the in vitro antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2 of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) hexamer peptide, Poly6, which is capable of eliciting an antiviral effect against human immunodeficiency virus -1 (HIV-1), as a novel HIV-1 integrase inhibitor, and a strong anticancer immune response in an IFN-I-dependent manner, as a novel potential adjuvant in anticancer immunotherapy. Here, we report that Poly6 exerts an anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect, with an estimated 50% inhibitory concentration of 2.617 µM, in the human bronchial epithelial cell line, Calu-3 but not in Vero-E6 cells, which are deficient in type 1 interferon (IFN-I) signaling. We proved via assays based on mRNA profiles, inhibitors, or blocking antibodies that Poly6 can exert an anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect in an IFN-I-dependent manner. We also found that Poly6 inhibits IL-6 production enhanced by SARS-CoV-2 in infected Calu-3 cells at both the transcription and the translation levels, mediated via IL-10 induction in an IFN-I-dependent manner. These results indicate the feasibility of Poly6 as an IFN-I-inducing COVID-19 drug with potent antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, IL-6, type I IFN (IFN-I), a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-derived peptide, Poly6, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, immune response, Anti-inflammatory, Antiviral, translation, antibody, feasibility, Immunotherapy, COVID-19 pandemic, Transcription, peptide, in vitro, anti-SARS-CoV-2, inhibitors, Antiviral effect, HBV, mRNA, HIV-1, Therapeutic strategies, IFN-I, IL-10, Calu-3 cell, inhibitor, Human immunodeficiency virus, Calu-3, Signaling, Hepatitis B virus, profiles, activities, inhibitory concentration, anticancer, Vero-E6 cells, type 1 interferon, effective, develop, inhibit, evaluated, epithelial cell line, 【제목키워드】 Human, Can,