Ibuprofen, Flurbiprofen, Etoricoxib or Paracetamol Do Not Influence ACE2 Expression and Activity In Vitro or in Mice and Do Not Exacerbate In-Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2022 Feb 15

PMID 35162972

Authors

Natasja de Bruin

Ann-Kathrin Schneider

Philipp Reus

Sonja Talmon

Sandra Ciesek

Denisa Bojkova

Jindrich Cinatl

Imran Lodhi

Bruce Charlesworth

Simon Sinclair

Graham Pennick

William F Laughey

Philip Gribbon

Aimo Kannt

Susanne Schiffmann

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 uses the human cell surface protein angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the receptor by which it gains access into lung and other tissue. Early in the pandemic, there was speculation that a number of commonly used medications-including ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-have the potential to upregulate ACE2, thereby possibly facilitating viral entry and increasing the severity of COVID-19. We investigated the influence of the NSAIDS with a range of cyclooxygenase (COX)1 and COX2 selectivity (ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, etoricoxib) and paracetamol on the level of ACE2 mRNA/protein expression and activity as well as their influence on SARS-CoV-2 infection levels in a Caco-2 cell model. We also analysed the ACE2 mRNA/protein levels and activity in lung, heart and aorta in ibuprofen treated mice. The drugs had no effect on ACE2 mRNA/protein expression and activity in the Caco-2 cell model. There was no up-regulation of ACE2 mRNA/protein expression and activity in lung, heart and aorta tissue in ibuprofen-treated mice in comparison to untreated mice. Viral load was significantly reduced by both flurbiprofen and ibuprofen at high concentrations. Ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, etoricoxib and paracetamol demonstrated no effects on ACE2 expression or activity in vitro or in vivo. Higher concentrations of ibuprofen and flurbiprofen reduced SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro.

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