Peramivir, an anti-influenza virus drug, exhibits potential anti-cytokine storm effects

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been declared a public health emergency of international concerns. Cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) is a critical clinical symptom of severe COVID-19 patients, and the macrophage is recognized as the direct host cell of SARS-CoV-2 and potential drivers of CSS. In the present study, peramivir was identified to reduce TNF- by partly intervention of NF-{kappa}B activity in LPS-induced macrophage model. In vivo, peramivir reduced the multi-cytokines in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), alleviated the acute lung injury and prolonged the survival time in mice. In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), peramivir could also inhibit the release of TNF-. Collectively, we proposed that peramivir might be a candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 and other infections related CSS. Graphic Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=102 SRC="FIGDIR/small/201806v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (29K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@667e34org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e7bf85org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ced400org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c055a5_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG