The impact of calcitriol and estradiol on the SARS-CoV-2 biological activity: a molecular modeling approach
Mansouri et al.,
The impact of calcitriol and estradiol on the SARS-CoV-2 biological activity: a molecular modeling approach,
Scientific Reports, doi:10.1038/s41598-022-04778-y
In Silico study predicting that calcitriol and estradiol disrupt the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2. Authors note that calcitriol may be more effective in the presence of estradiol.
Mansouri et al., 13 Jan 2022, peer-reviewed, 5 authors.
Contact:
kowsarzar@yahoo.com, akiomiya@obihiro.ac.jp.
In Silico studies are an important part of preclinical research, however results may be very different in vivo.
Abstract: www.nature.com/scientificreports
OPEN
The impact of calcitriol
and estradiol on the SARS‑CoV‑2
biological activity: a molecular
modeling approach
Alireza Mansouri1,7, Rasoul Kowsar1,2,7*, Mostafa Zakariazadeh3,4, Hassan Hakimi5,6 &
Akio Miyamoto1*
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is currently a big concern around the world. Recent reports
show that the disease severity and mortality of COVID-19 infected patients may vary from gender
to gender with a very high risk of death for seniors. In addition, some steroid structures have been
reported to affect coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, function and activity. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host
cells depends on the binding of coronavirus spike protein to angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2).
Viral main protease is essential for the replication of SARS-CoV-2. It was hypothesized that steroid
molecules (e.g., estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prednisone
and calcitriol) could occupy the active site of the protease and could alter the interaction of spike
protein with ACE2. Computational data showed that estradiol interacted more strongly with the main
protease active site. In the presence of calcitriol, the binding energy of the spike protein to ACE2 was
increased, and transferring Apo to Locked S conformer of spike trimer was facilitated. Together, the
interaction between spike protein and ACE2 can be disrupted by calcitriol. Potential use of estradiol
and calcitriol to reduce virus invasion and replication needs clinical investigation.
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first recognized in the Hubei Province of China in December 2019 and has
been reported as a very widespread disease with people-to-people transmission. Clinical evidence suggests that
women are more resilient than men in terms of COVID-191–5. In the previous study, the critical factors involved
in increasing the mortality and severity of COVID-19 in patients were investigated and higher disease severity
and mortality were found in male patients2. It has been reported that 12.8% of 86 men died and 75.6% recovered,
while 7.3% of 82 females died and 86.6% recovered6. In addition, the reports showed a relatively low risk of
incidence in children but a very high risk of death in seniors7. Elderly patients diagnosed with COVID-19 aged
60 or older8 had higher clinical signs, higher severity and longer periods of i llness9.
Sex steroid hormones are the primary cause of female and male differences. Testosterone (T) known as the
predominant sex steroid hormone in males plays an essential role in sexual and reproductive development. In
women, the predominant sex steroid hormones progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) are produced by ovaries.
With respect to the menstrual cycle, the concentration of E2 reaches the highest level just before ovulation (during the follicular or proliferative phase) and then decreases shortly afterwards (during the luteal or secretory
phase). P4 is released at peak level during the luteal phase, and then drops before the next menstrual period.
Decreases in menopausal-associated ovarian hormones have been well e stablished10. Women with the lowest
concentrations of androgen and E2 showed worse quality of life s cores11. Steroids, such as E2, P4, T, and dexamethasone (DEX), may be involved in inflammation and immune reactions12–15. The expression of pro-..
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