1. Effect of interferon alpha and cyclosporine treatment separately and in combination on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) replication in a human in-vitro and ex-vivo culture model
- Author
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Denise I. T. Kuok, Mandy M.T. Ng, Kenrie P Y Hui, Hung Sing Li, Michael C. W. Chan, J. S. Malik Peiris, MC Cheung, KC Ng, and John M. Nicholls
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus ,viruses ,Ex vivo explants ,Alpha interferon ,Disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Interferon ,Virology ,medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Type I interferon ,Coronavirus ,Pharmacology ,business.industry ,In vitro ,Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) ,030104 developmental biology ,Viral replication ,Cyclosporine ,business ,Ex vivo ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has emerged as a coronavirus infection of humans in the past 5 years. Though confined to certain geographical regions of the world, infection has been associated with a case fatality rate of 35%, and this mortality may be higher in ventilated patients. As there are few readily available animal models that accurately mimic human disease, it has been a challenge to ethically determine what optimum treatment strategies can be used for this disease. We used in-vitro and human ex-vivo explant cultures to investigate the effect of two immunomodulatory agents, interferon alpha and cyclosporine, singly and in combination, on MERS-CoV replication. In both culture systems the combined treatment was more effective than either agent used alone in reducing MERS-CoV replication. PCR SuperArray analysis showed that the reduction of virus replication was associated with a greater induction of interferon stimulated genes. As these therapeutic agents are already licensed for clinical use, it may be relevant to investigate their use for therapy of human MERS-CoV infection., Highlights • The effect of interferon-α and/or cyclosporine on MERS-CoV replication was evaluated with a human ex-vivo culture model. • All treatments were able to reduce MERS-CoV replication. • The combined treatment was more effective than either agent used alone in reducing MERS-CoV replication. • The effect of the combined treatment group was associated with a greater induction of interferon stimulated genes.
- Published
- 2018