Acetylsalicylic Acid and Salicylic Acid Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Precision-Cut Lung Slices
Nina Geiger, Eva-Maria König, Heike Oberwinkler, Valeria Roll, Viktoria Diesendorf, Sofie Fähr, Helena Obernolte, Katherina Sewald, Sabine Wronski, Maria Steinke, Jochen Bodem
Vaccines, doi:10.3390/vaccines10101619
Aspirin, with its active compound acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), shows antiviral activity against rhino-and influenza viruses at high concentrations. We sought to investigate whether ASA and its metabolite salicylic acid (SA) inhibit SARS-CoV-2 since it might use similar pathways to influenza viruses. The compound-treated cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Viral replication was analysed by RTqPCR. The compounds suppressed SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell culture cells and a patient-near replication system using human precision-cut lung slices by two orders of magnitude. While the compounds did not interfere with viral entry, it led to lower viral RNA expression after 24 h, indicating that post-entry pathways were inhibited by the compounds.
Funding: Bayer Vital GmbH funded a part of this study. This publication was supported by the Open Access Publication Fund of the University of Wuerzburg.
Conflicts of Interest: Bayer Vital GmbH funded a part of this study but had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.
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