rwj-56110 and Weight-Loss

Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) has been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of viral diseases. However, its role remains controversial. The goal of our study was to investigate the contribution of PAR1 to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections.. Pharmacological approaches were used to investigate the role of PAR1 during RSV and hMPV infection, in vitro using epithelial A549 cells and in vivo using a mouse model of virus infection.. In vitro, the PAR1 antagonist RWJ-56110 reduced the replication of RSV and hMPV in A549 cells. In agreement with these results, RWJ-56110-treated mice were protected against RSV and hMPV infections, as indicated by less weight loss and mortality. This protective effect in mice correlated with decreased lung viral replication and inflammation. In contrast, hMPV-infected mice treated with the PAR1 agonist TFLLR-NH. These data show that PAR1 plays a detrimental role during RSV and hMPV infections in mice via, at least, a thrombin-dependent mechanism. Thus, the use of PAR1 antagonists and thrombin inhibitors may have potential as a novel approach for the treatment of RSV and hMPV infections.

Topics: Animals; Arginine; Cells, Cultured; Female; Humans; Indazoles; Metapneumovirus; Mice; Oligopeptides; Paramyxoviridae Infections; Pipecolic Acids; Receptor, PAR-1; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; Sulfonamides; Thrombin; Urea; Virus Replication; Weight Loss