Heparin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Human Nasal Epithelial Cells
Leo Yi Yang Lee,
Randy Suryadinata,
Conor McCafferty,
Vera Ignjatovic,
Damian F. J. Purcell,
Phil Robinson,
Craig J. Morton,
Michael W. Parker,
Gary P. Anderson,
Paul Monagle,
Kanta Subbarao,
Jessica A. Neil
Affiliations
Leo Yi Yang Lee
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Randy Suryadinata
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Conor McCafferty
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Vera Ignjatovic
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Damian F. J. Purcell
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Phil Robinson
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Craig J. Morton
Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
Michael W. Parker
Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
Gary P. Anderson
Lung Health Research Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
Paul Monagle
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Kanta Subbarao
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Jessica A. Neil
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination, supported by social and public health measures, has proven efficacious for reducing disease severity and virus spread. However, the emergence of highly transmissible viral variants that escape prior immunity highlights the need for additional mitigation approaches. Heparin binds the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and can inhibit virus entry and replication in susceptible human cell lines and bronchial epithelial cells. Primary infection predominantly occurs via the nasal epithelium, but the nasal cell biology of SARS-CoV-2 is not well studied. We hypothesized that prophylactic intranasal administration of heparin may provide strain-agnostic protection for household contacts or those in high-risk settings against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we investigated the ability of heparin to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in differentiated human nasal epithelial cells and showed that prolonged exposure to heparin inhibits virus infection. Furthermore, we establish a method for PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes in heparin-treated samples that can be adapted for the detection of viruses in clinical studies.
