Virlaza Inhibits Sars-COV-2-induced Inflammatory Response of Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Pulmonary Fibroblast

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is currently a global public health emergency and beyond vaccines as a prophylactic treatment, no specific and effective therapeutical treatments are available. COVID-19 induces a massive release of proinflammatory cytokines, which drives COVID-19 progression, severity, and mortality. In addition, bronchial epithelial cells are the first pulmonary cells activated by coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) leading to massive cytokine release, which can hyperactivate lung fibroblasts, resulting in pulmonary fibrosis, a phenomenon observed even in moderate COVID-19 survivors. This in vitro study tested the hypothesis that Virlaza, a herbal medicine, could inhibit the hyperactivation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and pulmonary fibroblasts (MRC-5) induced by SARS-Cov-2. BEAS-2B (5x104/mL/well) and MRC-5 (5x104/mL/well) cells were co-cultivated with 1ml of blood of a Sars-Cov-2 infected patient for 4 hours and Virlaza (1ug/mL) was added in the first minute of the co-culture. After 4 hours, the cells were recovered and used for analysis of cytotoxicity by MTT and for mRNA expression of P2X7 receptor E iNOS. The supernatant was used to measure ATP and cytokines. Sars-Cov-2 incubation resulted in increased release of ATP, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha by BEAS-2B and MRC-5 cells (p<0.001). Treatment with Virlaza resulted in reduction of ATP, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha release (p<0.001). In addition, Sars-Cov-2 incubation resulted in increased expression of P2X7 receptor and iNOS (p<0.001), which has been reversed by Virlaza (p<0.001). In conclusion, Virlaza presents important anti-inflammatory effects in the context of Sars-Cov-2 infection.