Genomics-guided identification of potential modulators of SARS-CoV-2 entry proteases, TMPRSS2 and Cathepsins B/L

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 18;16(8):e0256141. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256141. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 requires serine protease, transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), and cysteine proteases, cathepsins B, L (CTSB/L) for entry into host cells. These host proteases activate the spike protein and enable SARS-CoV-2 entry. We herein performed genomic-guided gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to identify upstream regulatory elements altering the expression of TMPRSS2 and CTSB/L. Further, medicinal compounds were identified based on their effects on gene expression signatures of the modulators of TMPRSS2 and CTSB/L genes. Using this strategy, estradiol and retinoic acid have been identified as putative SARS-CoV-2 alleviation agents. Next, we analyzed drug-gene and gene-gene interaction networks using 809 human targets of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. The network results indicate that estradiol interacts with 370 (45%) and retinoic acid interacts with 251 (31%) human proteins. Interestingly, a combination of estradiol and retinoic acid interacts with 461 (56%) of human proteins, indicating the therapeutic benefits of drug combination therapy. Finally, molecular docking analysis suggests that both the drugs bind to TMPRSS2 and CTSL with the nanomolar to low micromolar affinity. The results suggest that these drugs can simultaneously target both the entry pathways of SARS-CoV-2 and thus can be considered as a potential treatment option for COVID-19.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cathepsin B / chemistry
  • Cathepsin B / genetics*
  • Cathepsin L / chemistry
  • Cathepsin L / genetics*
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Estradiol / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / drug effects
  • Genomics / methods*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Interaction Maps / drug effects
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Viral Proteins
  • Estradiol
  • Tretinoin
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS2 protein, human
  • CTSB protein, human
  • Cathepsin B
  • CTSL protein, human
  • Cathepsin L

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Saudi Arabia (Grant number 21-13-18-073). The authors are grateful to the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, for funding through Vice Deanship of Scientific Research Chairs.