title: Broad-Range Antiviral Activity of Hydrogen Sulfide Against Highly Pathogenic RNA Viruses.
abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is an important endogenous mediator that has been the focus of intense investigation in the past few years, leading to the discovery of its role in vasoactive, cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory responses. Recently, we made a critical observation that H2S also has a protective role in paramyxovirus infection by modulating inflammatory responses and viral replication. In this study we tested the antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity of the H2S slow-releasing donor GYY4137 on enveloped RNA viruses from Ortho-, Filo-, Flavi- and Bunyavirus families, for which there is no FDA-approved vaccine or therapeutic available, with the exception of influenza. We found that GYY4137 significantly reduced replication of all tested viruses. In a model of influenza infection, GYY4137 treatment was associated with decreased expression of viral proteins and mRNA, suggesting inhibition of an early step of replication. The antiviral activity coincided with the decrease of viral-induced pro-inflammatory mediators and viral-induced nuclear translocation of transcription factors from Nuclear Factor (NF)-kB and Interferon Regulatory Factor families. In conclusion, increasing cellular H2S is associated with significant antiviral activity against a broad range of emerging enveloped RNA viruses, and should be further explored as potential therapeutic approach in relevant preclinical models of viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nikolay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bazhanov
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Escaffre
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.|Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.|Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Freiberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.|Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.|Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Roberto P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.|Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.|Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C529376:GYY 4137; D009025:Morpholines; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide