1. Academic Validation
  2. The potential of remdesivir to affect function, metabolism and proliferation of cardiac and kidney cells in vitro

The potential of remdesivir to affect function, metabolism and proliferation of cardiac and kidney cells in vitro

  • Arch Toxicol. 2022 Aug;96(8):2341-2360. doi: 10.1007/s00204-022-03306-1.
Katja Merches 1 2 Leonie Breunig 1 Julia Fender 1 Theresa Brand 1 Vanessa Bätz 1 Svenja Idel 3 Laxmikanth Kollipara 3 Yvonne Reinders 3 Albert Sickmann 3 4 5 Angela Mally 1 Kristina Lorenz 6 7 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
  • 2 Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL), Erlangen, Germany.
  • 3 Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany.
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, College of Physical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
  • 5 Medizinische Fakultät, Medizinisches Proteom-Center (MPC), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
  • 6 Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. lorenz@toxi.uni-wuerzburg.de.
  • 7 Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany. lorenz@toxi.uni-wuerzburg.de.
  • 8 PGS Toxicology and Environmental Protection, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 28, Leipzig, Germany. lorenz@toxi.uni-wuerzburg.de.
Abstract

Remdesivir is a prodrug of a nucleoside analog and the first Antiviral therapeutic approved for coronavirus disease. Recent cardiac safety concerns and reports on remdesivir-related acute kidney injury call for a better characterization of remdesivir toxicity and understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we performed an in vitro toxicity assessment of remdesivir around clinically relevant concentrations (Cmax 9 µM) using H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts, neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCM), rat NRK-52E and human RPTEC/TERT1 cells as cell models for the assessment of cardiotoxicity or nephrotoxicity, respectively. Due to the known potential of nucleoside analogs for the induction of mitochondrial toxicity, we assessed mitochondrial function in response to remdesivir treatment, early proteomic changes in NMCM and RPTEC/TERT1 cells and the contractile function of NMCM. Short-term treatments (24 h) of H9c2 and NRK-52E cells with remdesivir adversely affected cell viability by inhibition of proliferation as determined by significantly decreased 3H-thymidine uptake. Mitochondrial toxicity of remdesivir (1.6-3.1 µM) in cardiac cells was evident by a significant decrease in oxygen consumption, a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in lactate secretion after a 24-48-h treatment. This was supported by early proteomic changes of respiratory chain proteins and intermediate filaments that are typically involved in mitochondrial reorganization. Functionally, an impedance-based analysis showed that remdesivir (6.25 µM) affected the beat rate and contractility of NMCM. In conclusion, we identified adverse effects of remdesivir in cardiac and kidney cells at clinically relevant concentrations, suggesting a careful evaluation of therapeutic use in patients at risk for cardiovascular or kidney disease.

Keywords

COVID-19; Cardiotoxicity; Mitochondrial toxicity; Nephrotoxicity; Nucleoside analog; Remdesivir.

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