Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

Niacinamide enhances cathelicidin mediated SARS-CoV-2 membrane disruption.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

January 1, 2023

Journal

Frontiers in immunology

Volume/Issue

14

ISSN

1664-3224

The continual emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants threatens to compromise the effectiveness of worldwide vaccination programs, and highlights the need for complementary strategies for a sustainable containment plan. An effective approach is to mobilize the body’s own antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection and propagation. We have found that human cathelicidin (LL37), an AMP found at epithelial barriers as well as in various bodily fluids, has the capacity to neutralise multiple strains of SARS-CoV-2. Biophysical and computational studies indicate that LL37’s mechanism of action is through the disruption of the viral membrane. This antiviral activity of LL37 is enhanced by the hydrotropic action of niacinamide, which may increase the bioavailability of the AMP. Interestingly, we observed an inverse correlation between LL37 levels and disease severity of COVID-19 positive patients, suggesting enhancement of AMP response as a potential therapeutic avenue to mitigate disease severity. The combination of niacinamide and LL37 is a potent antiviral formulation that targets viral membranes of various variants and can be an effective strategy to overcome vaccine escape.

Alternate Journal

Front Immunol

PubMed ID

38022563

PubMed Central ID

PMC10663372

Authors

Tanay Bhatt
Binita Dam
Sneha Uday Khedkar
Sahil Lall
Subhashini Pandey
Sunny Kataria
Johan Ajnabi
Shah-E-Jahan Gulzar
Paul M Dias
Morris Waskar
Janhavi Raut
Varadharajan Sundaramurthy
Praveen Kumar Vemula
Naresh Ghatlia
Amitabha Majumdar
Colin Jamora

Keywords

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
Cathelicidins
Niacinamide
Humans
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Antiviral Agents