The MEK1/2-inhibitor ATR-002 efficiently blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation and alleviates pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses

Schreiber A, Viemann D, Schoening J, Schloer S, Zambrano AM, Brunotte L, Faist A, Schoefbaenker M, Hrincius E, Hoffmann H, Hoffmann M, Poehlmann S, Rescher U, Planz O, Ludwig S (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Springer

Book Volume: 79

Article Number: 65

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04085-1

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the illness caused by a novel coronavirus now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to more than 260 million confirmed infections and 5 million deaths to date. While vaccination is a powerful tool to control pandemic spread, medication to relieve COVID-19-associated symptoms and alleviate disease progression especially in high-risk patients is still lacking. In this study, we explore the suitability of the rapid accelerated fibrosarcoma/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Raf/MEK/ERK) pathway as a druggable target in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We find that SARS-CoV-2 transiently activates Raf/MEK/ERK signaling in the very early infection phase and that ERK1/2 knockdown limits virus replication in cell culture models. We demonstrate that ATR-002, a specific inhibitor of the upstream MEK1/2 kinases which is currently evaluated in clinical trials as an anti-influenza drug, displays strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in cell lines as well as in primary air–liquid-interphase epithelial cell (ALI) cultures, with a safe and selective treatment window. We also observe that ATR-002 treatment impairs the SARS-CoV-2-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and thus might prevent COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation, a key player in COVID-19 progression. Thus, our data suggest that the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade may represent a target for therapeutic intervention strategies against SARS-CoV-2 infections and that ATR-002 is a promising candidate for further drug evaluation.

Involved external institutions

Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster DE Germany (DE) Atriva Therapeutics GmbH DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Würzburg DE Germany (DE) Deutsches Primatenzentrum (DPZ), Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Schreiber, A., Viemann, D., Schoening, J., Schloer, S., Zambrano, A.M., Brunotte, L.,... Ludwig, S. (2022). The MEK1/2-inhibitor ATR-002 efficiently blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation and alleviates pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 79(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-021-04085-1

MLA:

Schreiber, Andre, et al. "The MEK1/2-inhibitor ATR-002 efficiently blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation and alleviates pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses." Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 79.1 (2022).

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