Therapeutic Effects of a Novel Aptamer on Coronaviral Infection-Induced Lung Injury and Systemic Inflammatory Responses.

Wang Y, Lindstam M, Hwang D, Jedlina L, Liu M

Cells 13 (5) - [2024-02-28; online 2024-02-28]

Coronaviral infection-induced acute lung injury has become a major threat to public health, especially through the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. Apta-1 is a newly discovered Aptamer that has anti-inflammatory effects on systemic septic responses. The therapeutic effects of Apta-1 on coronaviral infection-induced acute lung injury and systemic responses were evaluated in the present study. Female A/J mice (at 12-14 weeks of age) were challenged with murine hepatitis virus 1 (MHV-1), a coronavirus, at 5000 PFU intranasally, followed by Apta-1 intravenously administered (100 mg/kg, twice) 1.5 h or 2 days after viral delivery. Animals were sacrificed at Day 2 or Day 4. Lung tissues were examined with H&E, immunohistochemistry staining, and western blotting. RT-qPCR was used for cytokine gene expression. Serum and plasma were collected for laboratory assessments. Apta-1 treatment reduced viral titers, prevented MHV-1-induced reduction of circulating blood volume and hemolysis, reduced alveolar space hemorrhage, and protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) cleavage. Apta-1 treatment also significantly reduced chemokine (MKC, MCP-1, and RANTES) levels, as well as AST, ALT, total bilirubin, and reduced unconjugated bilirubin levels in the serum. Apta-1 showed therapeutic benefits in coronaviral infection-induced hemorrhage and PAR-1 cleavage in the lung. It also has anti-inflammatory effects systemically.

Category: Health

Type: Journal article

PubMed 38474386

DOI 10.3390/cells13050422

Crossref 10.3390/cells13050422

pmc: PMC10931054
pii: cells13050422


Publications 9.5.0