Atorvastatin effectively inhibits late replicative cycle steps of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

• Published in: bioRxiv 2021-03
• Main Authors: Zapata-Cardona, María I, Flórez-Álvarez, Lizdany, Zapata-Builes, Wildeman, Guerra-Sandoval, Ariadna L, Guerra-Almonacid, Carlos M, Hincapié-García, Jaime, Rugeles, María T, Hernandez, Juan C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affinity; Antiviral activity; Antiviral agents; Atorvastatin; Bioinformatics; Cholesterol; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; DNA-directed RNA polymerase; Microbiology; Morbidity; Pandemics; Proteinase; Public health; RNA polymerase; RNA-directed RNA polymerase; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• ISSN: 2692-8205
• DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.01.433498

Abstract Introduction SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has caused a pandemic of historic proportions and continues to spread worldwide. Currently, there is no effective therapy against this virus. This article evaluated the in vitro antiviral effect of Atorvastatin against SARS-CoV-2 and also identified the interaction affinity between Atorvastatin and three SARS-CoV-2 proteins, using in silico structure-based molecular docking approach. Materials and methods The antiviral activity of Atorvastatin against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated by three different treatment strategies using a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2. The interaction of Atorvastatin with Spike, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and 3C-like protease (3CLpro) was evaluated by molecular docking. Results Atorvastatin showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of 79%, 54.8%, 22.6% and 25% at 31.2, 15.6, 7.9, and 3.9 µM, respectively, by pre-post-treatment strategy. In addition, atorvastatin demonstrated an antiviral effect of 26.9% at 31.2 µM by pre-infection treatment. This compound also inhibited SARS-CoV-2 in 66.9%, 75%, 27.9% and 29.2% at concentrations of 31.2, 15.6, 7.9, and 3.9 µM, respectively, by post-infection treatment. The interaction of atorvastatin with SARS-CoV-2 Spike, RdRp and 3CL protease yielded a binding affinity of −8.5 Kcal/mol, −6.2 Kcal/mol, and −7.5 Kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusion Our study demonstrated the in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of Atorvastatin, mainly against the late steps of the viral replicative cycle. A favorable binding affinity with viral proteins by bioinformatics methods was also shown. Due to its low cost, availability, well-established safety and tolerability, and the extensive clinical experience of atorvastatin, it could prove valuable in reducing morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. Importance The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes the largest global public health crisis in a century, with enormous health and socioeconomic challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to search for specific antivirals against its causative agent (SARS-CoV-2). In this sense, the use of existing drugs may represent a useful treatment option in terms of safety, cost-effectiveness, and timeliness. Atorvastatin is widely used to prevent cardiovascular events. This compound modulates the synthesis of cholesterol, a molecule necessary in different stages of the viral replicative cycle. Our study demonstrated the antiviral potential of atorvastatin against SARS-CoV-2