Volume: 42 Issue: 3
Year: 2022, Page: 612-615, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51248/.v42i3.1635
Introduction and Aim: We examined the effect of pre- and/or post-infection doxycycline on human nasal epithelial cell viability and SARS-CoV-2 (clinical strain IHUMI-3) replication in vitro.
Materials and Methods: Human nasal epithelial cells, an in vivo SARS-CoV-2 target, were derived from healthy donor nasal epithelial stem/progenitor cells via in vitro differentiation. The cells were exposed to doxycycline at 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 μM before and/or after IHUMI-3 inoculation to determine the optimal inhibitory concentration. Viral replication was evaluated using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, and doxycycline 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) were calculated. The peak serum concentration (Cmax) resulting from typical oral (100 or 200 mg) or intravenous (100 mg) doxycycline doses was estimated, and the Cmax/EC50 ratio was calculated as an index of potential clinical utility.
Results: Doxycycline exhibited low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 μM) in human nasal epithelial cells and inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication (EC50: 5.2 ± 3.3 μM) in a dose-dependent manner when administered pre- and/or post-infection. Reasonable oral or intravenous doses will help achieve effective concentrations in vivo.
Conclusion: Early administration of this well-characterized, safe, and accessible drug may limit person-to-person transmission and prevent progression to severe coronavirus disease.
Keywords: Doxycycline; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; in vitro.
Yethindra Vityala, Tugolbai Tagaev, Asel Imankulova Marat Kaliev, Bakyt Orozalieva, Mira Niyazalieva, Altynai Zhumabekova, Krishna Priya Kanteti, Poojitha Sai Kuruva. Doxycycline inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Biomedicine: 2022; 42(3): 612-615