title: Replication of human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E is inhibited by the drug FK506.
abstract: Recent research has shown that Coronavirus (CoV) replication depends on active immunophilin pathways. Here we demonstrate that the drug FK506 (Tacrolimus) inhibited strongly the growth of human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E at low, non-cytotoxic concentrations in cell culture. As shown by plaque titration, qPCR, Luciferase- and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene expression, replication was diminished by several orders of magnitude. Knockdown of the cellular FK506-binding proteins FKBP1A and FKBP1B in CaCo2 cells prevented replication of HCoV-NL63, suggesting the requirement of these members of the immunophilin family for virus growth.
authors.affiliation: Max-von-Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstrasse 9a, 80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carbajo-Lozoya
authors.forename: Marcel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kallies
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drosten
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Brunn
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D028941:Coronavirus 229E, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D058957:Coronavirus NL63, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins; D016559:Tacrolimus