Harnessing a potent combination to address a pandemic virus:

SARS-CoV-2-specific antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity of BromAc

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Presentation Time: 03:15 PM - 04:30 PM
Poster Board Number: B952
Abstract ID: 6304

Presenting Author:
Jordana GA Coelho-dos-Reis , Dr at Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais

Abstract:

Herein, the impact of BromAc on the SARS-CoV-2-specific inflammatory response was evaluated. A reduction of the cytokine storm, composed of chemokines, growth factors, proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines produced after short-term in vitro culture with the inactivated virus (iSARS-CoV-2). The immunophenotypic analysis showed that BromAc was able to downmodulate CD16⁺ neutrophils and CD14⁺ monocytes observed after stimulation with iSARS-CoV-2. Conversely, BromAc treatment increased steady-state HLA-DR expression in CD14⁺ monocytes and preserved this activation marker in this subset upon iSARS-CoV-2 stimuli, indicating improved monocyte activation upon BromAc treatment. Additionally, BromAc downmodulated the iSARS-CoV-2-induced production of TNF-α by the CD19⁺ B-cells. System biology approaches, utilizing comprehensive correlation matrices and networks show distinct patterns of connectivity in groups treated with BromAc, suggesting loss of connections promoted by the compound and by iSARS-CoV-2 stimuli. In addition, BromAc seems to disengage proinflammatory responses and their interactions with other soluble factors and axis orchestrated by SARS-CoV-2. These results give new insights on the mechanisms for the robust anti-inflammatory effect of BromAc in the steady state as well SARS-CoV-2-specific immune leukocyte responses, indicating its potential as a therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.