Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: NRF2 activators restrict coronaviruses by targeting a network involving ACE2, TMPRSS2, and XPO1
doi: 10.1101/2025.02.24.639813
Figure Lengend Snippet: Experiments for panels A and B were performed in the Gerold lab (Hannover, Germany) and for panels C-G in the Olagnier lab (Aarhus, Denmark). LDH release assay demonstrated that the compounds were non-toxic to Calu3 cells after 48 h of incubation ( Figure S1 ). A,B . Calu3 cells were pretreated with the compounds (BARD, 0.1 µM; SFN, 10 µM; 4OI, 100 µM) for 24 h, inoculated with SARS-CoV-2/München-1.2/2020/984,p3 (MOI = 0.005) in presence of the compounds for 4 h, followed by removing the viral inoculum and adding fresh medium containing the respective compounds and controls. 48 h p.i., viral genome copies were determined by RT-qPCR. A. supernatants and B. cell lysates. C-G . Calu3 cells were pretreated with the indicated compounds for 48 h (C-F) or 24 h (G), infected with SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-like early European B.1 lineage (FR-4286) (MOI = 0.01) for 1 h, followed by removal of the inoculum and incubation in fresh medium containing the compounds. Target gene expression and protein levels were measured 24 h p.i. C. Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins, and XPO1 protein expression, but increase in AKR1B10 and NQO1 levels by 4OI (125 µM) (immunoblot with β-actin as internal reference). D. Marked reduction of viral RNA of diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern by 4OI (125 µM). E,F. NRF2 independence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect of 4OI. Control (transfected with control siRNA) or NRF2 knock-down Calu3 cells (transfected with specific anti-NRF2 siRNA) were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (MOI 0.01) and treated with 4OI (125 µM) or buffer only. E . SARS-CoV-2 RNA (RT-qPCR, cell lysates). F. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (immunoblot with vinculin as internal reference, cell lysates). n =3, means ±SEM. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test. * ≤0.05, ** ≤0.01, *** ≤0.001, **** ≤0.0001.
Article Snippet: The following primary antibodies were used: ACE2 (92485S, 1:1000, Cell Signaling Technology), XPO1 (46249S, 1:1000, Cell signaling technology), β-actin (ab49900, 1:20,000, Abcam).
Techniques: Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay, Incubation, Quantitative RT-PCR, Infection, Targeted Gene Expression, Expressing, Western Blot, Control, Transfection, Knockdown