The neutralization effect of Montelukast on SARS-CoV-2 is shown by multiscale in silico simulations and combined in vitro studies

Durdagi, Serdar; Avsar, Timucin; Orhan, Muge Didem; Serhatli, Muge; Balcioglu, Bertan Koray; Ozturk, Hasan Umit; Kayabolen, Alisan; Cetin, Yuksel; Aydinlik, Seyma; Bagci-Onder, Tugba; Tekin, Saban; Demirci, Hasan; Guzel, Mustafa; Akdemir, Atilla; Calis, Seyma; Oktay, Lalehan; Tolu, Ilayda; Butun, Yasar Enes; Erdemoglu, Ece; Olkan, Alpsu; Tokay, Nurettin; Işık, Şeyma; Ozcan, Aysenur; Acar, Elif; Buyukkilic, Sehriban; Yumak, Yesim

Small molecule inhibitors have previously been investigated in different studies as possible therapeutics in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. In the current drug repurposing study, we identified the leukotriene (D4) receptor antagonist Montelukast as a novel agent that simultaneously targets two important drug targets of SARS-CoV-2. We initially demonstrated the dual inhibition profile of Montelukast through multiscale molecular modeling studies. Next, we characterized its effect on both targets by different in vitro experiments including the enzyme (main protease) inhibition-based assay, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, pseudovirus neutralization on HEK293T/hACE2+TMPRSS2, and virus neutralization assay using xCELLigence MP real time cell analyzer. Our integrated in silico and in vitro results confirmed the dual potential effect of the Montelukast both on the main protease enzyme inhibition and virus entry into the host cell (Spike/ACE2). The virus neutralization assay results showed that SARS-CoV-2 virus activity was delayed with Montelukast for 20 hours on the infected cells. The rapid use of new small molecules in the pandemic is very important today. Montelukast, whose pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties are very well characterized and has been widely used in the treatment of asthma since 1998, should urgently be completed in clinical phase studies and if its effect is proven in clinical phase studies, it should be used against COVID-19.