Oxysterol derivatives show powerful antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

By Dr. Liji Thomas, MDFeb 3 2021

Against the bleak background of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), effective antivirals are urgently required to rescue those severely ill following infection with the virus.

A new preprint recently released on the bioRxiv* preprint server describes the antiviral activity of oxysterols, or oxidized cholesterol derivatives, against SARS-CoV-2. These occur in nature, and are not only involved in lipid signaling pathways that modulate a host of processes within the body, including the immune response and lipid homeostasis.

Study: Identification of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) oxysterol derivatives in vitro. Image Credit: NIAID / Flickr

This news article was a review of a preliminary scientific report that had not undergone peer-review at the time of publication. Since its initial publication, the scientific report has now been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in a Scientific Journal. Links to the preliminary and peer-reviewed reports are available in the Sources section at the bottom of this article. View Sources

Recently, many researchers have shown that these compounds have antiviral activity against a wide range of viruses, including (20(S)-hydroxycholesterol [20(S)-OHC] and 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol [22(S)-OHC]) that hepatitis B virus; herpes simplex virus; human papillomavirus; and rotavirus.

The scientists studied both endogenous and semi-synthetic compounds. Earlier research by the same team has shown that semi-synthetic oxysterols such as Oxy186, Oxy210 and Oxy133 can inhibit cancer cells, fibrosis and bone regrowth, respectively. The current paper screens an array of oxysterols for their activity against SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture.

Natural oxysterols have antiviral activity

The researchers found that natural oxysterols were able to produce a marked reduction in the spread of the virus among cells in culture. These compounds include natural oxysterols, namely, 7-ketocholesterol, 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol, and 27-hydroxycholesterol.

These compounds reduced viral RNA production by up to 86% relative to controls, but without observable cytotoxicity at doses up to 30 μM, the highest concentration. However, natural oxysterols are unstable during metabolism, and have beneficial as well as potentially harmful actions in the body.

For instance, 25-OHC suppresses viral replication but also enhances immune cell activation as well as exaggerating the release of immune mediators that cause atherosclerosis. For this reason, semi-synthetic oxysterols were preferred.

Semi-synthetic oxysterol derivatives inhibit viral production

Semi-synthetic oxysterols are not only more metabolically stable, but have more potent drug activity, are more selective in their activity, and are safer.

The semi-synthetic oxysterols with antiviral activity included Oxy186 and oxysterol analogues Oxy210 and Oxy232. Oxy186 had very similar antiviral activity relative to that of the natural oxysterols, that is, an 83% reduction in viral RNA relative to controls.

The analogues had even stronger anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity than the natural oxysterols, in fact, with an over 90% drop in viral replication at a concentration of 10 microM, and almost complete suppression at 15 microM. Both cytopathic effects and virus propagation were suppressed by Oxy210, but not by Oxy133.

Oxy186 and Oxy210 were not associated with a reduction in cell viability, but there was a slightly cytotoxic effect with high concentrations of Oxy232.

The compound Oxy210 was selected for further studies because it was the most bioavailable, while having powerful inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 replication.

In a mouse study, oral administration of Oxy210 achieved peak plasma concentrations of 19 microM, which is within the therapeutic range, as shown by the dose-response curve for antiviral activity in the cell culture inhibition assay.

Advantages of oxysterols over remdesivir

While Oxy210 inhibited Hedgehog (Hh) and transforming growth factor β signaling pathways within fibroblasts and cancer cells, the latter was not seen with Oxy232 despite its structural similarity to Oxy210. This indicates that the antiviral activity is not mediated by TGFβ inhibition.

This is further supported by the lack of efficacy of the TGFβ inhibitor SB431542, in viral RNA inhibition, or the Hh pathway inactivation by the compounds HPI-1 or GDC0449. This is another advantage of Oxy232, since unwanted off-target effects can be averted.

Remdesivir is a known inhibitor of viral RNA replication within the cell, but does not affect viral entry. This is mirrored by the activity of Oxy210, which reduces viral RNA over the whole lifecycle at any point following entry, but not at the time of viral entry. Thus, the target of Oxy210 is viral replication after viral entry.

However, where remdesivir has to be given via intravenous infusion in a hospital, the oxysterols may be given orally, at the time when SARS-CoV-2 infection is confirmed. This would prevent disease progression as well as viral spread in infected individuals and their contacts.

Also, oxysterols shift cell metabolism away from viral replication, thus reducing the chances of the emergence of drug-resistant mutants. And finally, oxysterols can be manufactured in a simple process compared to remdesivir.

Antiviral activity mediated by DMV inhibition

The mechanism of inhibition by Oxy210 is suggested to be via the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication by preventing the normal formation of intracellular membrane compartments within which viral replication proceeds efficiently. These are called double-membrane vesicles (DMVs).

Similar inhibitory activity was also seen with the RNA virus hepatitis C, which also replicates within DMVs. Expectedly, the hepatitis D virus, which does not depend on DMVs for replication, was not inhibited by this compound. Further work will be required to determine if Oxy210 has a direct effect on the formation of DMV.

Implications

The team suggests that the powerful antiviral activities observed in Oxysterol derivatives merit further research in the area.

Our study warrants further evaluation of Oxy210 and Oxy232 as a safe and reliable oral medication, which could help protect vulnerable populations with increased risk developing COVID-19. Semi-synthetic oxysterol derivatives, such as Oxy210 and Oxy232, could be promising leads in the search for COVID-19 drug candidates, used alone, or in combination with other therapies currently FDA approved or under investigation, such as RDV, convalescent plasma or antibody treatments.”

This news article was a review of a preliminary scientific report that had not undergone peer-review at the time of publication. Since its initial publication, the scientific report has now been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in a Scientific Journal. Links to the preliminary and peer-reviewed reports are available in the Sources section at the bottom of this article. View Sources