Avaliação da atividade antiviral e imunomoduladora do Zinco em modelo de infecção por SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Abstract

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can trigger an exacerbated inflammatory response, characterized by excessive activity of the immune system in an attempt to protect the organism from the pathogen. Upon recognition of viral particles, a very aggressive immune response is triggered, which may cause immunopathologies mediated by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in addition to cytopathic events in infected cells. Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient, which plays important physiological roles in cellular processes, from the immune response, signal transduction, organelle homeostasis to cell proliferation, and is already well known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral. Some studies relate the antiviral role of Zn to immunity, linking its effectiveness against COVID-19. The antiviral properties of Zn can occur from reducing viral infection, inhibition of viral protease and polymerase. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antiviral action of Zn in pulmonary epithelial cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to investigate the relationship with inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. For this, an in vitro assay was performed, in which Calu-3 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and treated with different concentrations of Zinc and Cobalt, which was used as a codependent control, and cells and supernatant were collected for evaluation of viral load, cell viability, inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress. The results demonstrate that Zn was able to inhibit viral replication in Calu-3, in addition to having an anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing IL-6 and TNF-a production, decreasing oxidative stress and cell death profile. These data suggest that Zn has potential antiviral effect as an adjuvant therapy and may provide protection by decreasing lung inflammation.