PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

AMPK inhibitor, compound C, inhibits coronavirus replication in vitro.

  • Minsu Jang,
  • Rackhyun Park,
  • Ayane Yamamoto,
  • Yea-In Park,
  • Yeonjeong Park,
  • Siyun Lee,
  • Junsoo Park

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292309
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 10
p. e0292309

Abstract

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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in more than six million deaths by October 2022. Vaccines and antivirals for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are now available; however, more effective antiviral drugs are required for effective treatment. Here, we report that a potent AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, compound C/dorsomorphin, inhibits the replication of the human coronavirus OC43 strain (HCoV-OC43). We examined HCoV-OC43 replication in control and AMPK-knockout (KO) cells and found that the virus replication decreased in AMPK-KO cells. Next, we examined the effect of the AMPK inhibitor, compound C on coronavirus replication. Compound C treatment efficiently inhibited the replication and decreased the coronavirus-induced cytotoxicity, further inhibiting autophagy. In addition, treatment with compound C in combination with chloroquine synergistically inhibited coronavirus replication. These results suggest that compound C can be considered as a potential drug candidate for COVID-19.