IMAGE: Molecular modeling of the interaction of heparin saccharides (colored stick and balls) with the receptor binding domain of Spike protein of SARS-CoV2 virus (yellow / green ribbon), which inhibits the … vision more
Credit: Mycroft-West et al.
An international team of researchers led by Liverpool and Keele Universities, working with Public Health England, has discovered that the common anticoagulant drug heparin inhibits the SARS-Cov2 virus spike protein, by reduces the ability of the virus to attach to human and infectious cells.
The research, published in the journals British Journal of Pharmacology, and Thrombosis and Haemostasis, heparin found that heparin interacts with the spike protein on the surface of coronavirus (SARS-CoV2), imbalancing its structure and preventing it from docking with the ACE2 receptor on human cells.
Molecular modeling by colleagues at the University of Queensland in Australia showed how heparin can adhere to the surface of the spike protein to achieve these effects, and studies with live SARS-CoV2 virus performed at Porton’s laboratory showed Public Health England found that heparin was inactivated (but not low molecular weight heparins) could prevent cell infection at doses similar to those currently used in clinical settings such as anti- medicine.
Crucially, the data strongly supported a clinical trial of inhaled (“nebulised”) inhaled heparin, as the doses known to be delivered to the lungs would have strong antiviral effects.
Professor Jeremy Turnbull from the Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology at the University of Liverpool, said: “This is exciting news as heparin could be rapidly replaced to help reduce Covid’s disease. -19, or perhaps as a prophylactic treatment for high-risk groups such as medical or care workers. The results have also led us to study another novel heparin-like fertilizer that may be effective against SARS-CoV2. “
Dr Mark Skidmore from Keele University’s School of Life Sciences led the research. He said: “We also know that heparins inhibit a range of other viruses, so a study of these drugs could provide new therapeutic strategies, and perhaps the first line of defense. against emerging viral threats, for example as vaccines are developed. ”
Professor Miles Carroll, of the National Disease Service, Public Health England, said: “There is an urgent need for new treatments targeting the SARS-CoV2 virus. Heparin, with its well-known clinical safety profile his, certainly an interesting candidate for re-opposition to Covid- 19. ”
“Covid-19 pandemic disease has had a significant impact on the delivery of NHS services and local communities. These findings reinforce the need for further study of heparin as a treatment in Covid-19 patients,” said Dr. Quentin Nunes, Consultant East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, is leading efforts to begin a clinical trial of nebulised heparin in ITU patients in the UK.
The early release of preview data from this study in March 2020, now published in peer-reviewed journals, has prompted international efforts to investigate the use of heparins for the treatment of Covid-19. Further work is now underway to investigate the potential of heparin and heparin-mimicking compounds as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs for Covid-19 and other emerging viral threats. the crop.
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