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Chloroquine does not inhibit infection of human lung cells with SARS-CoV-2

Author

Listed:
  • Markus Hoffmann

    (German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research
    Georg-August-University Göttingen)

  • Kirstin Mösbauer

    (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health
    associated partner Charité)

  • Heike Hofmann-Winkler

    (German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research)

  • Artur Kaul

    (German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research)

  • Hannah Kleine-Weber

    (German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research
    Georg-August-University Göttingen)

  • Nadine Krüger

    (German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research)

  • Nils C. Gassen

    (University of Bonn)

  • Marcel A. Müller

    (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health
    associated partner Charité
    Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University)

  • Christian Drosten

    (Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health
    associated partner Charité)

  • Stefan Pöhlmann

    (German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research
    Georg-August-University Göttingen)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been associated with more than 780,000 deaths worldwide (as of 20 August 2020). To develop antiviral interventions quickly, drugs used for the treatment of unrelated diseases are currently being repurposed to treat COVID-19. Chloroquine is an anti-malaria drug that is used for the treatment of COVID-19 as it inhibits the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the African green monkey kidney-derived cell line Vero1–3. Here we show that engineered expression of TMPRSS2, a cellular protease that activates SARS-CoV-2 for entry into lung cells4, renders SARS-CoV-2 infection of Vero cells insensitive to chloroquine. Moreover, we report that chloroquine does not block infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the TMPRSS2-expressing human lung cell line Calu-3. These results indicate that chloroquine targets a pathway for viral activation that is not active in lung cells and is unlikely to protect against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in and between patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Hoffmann & Kirstin Mösbauer & Heike Hofmann-Winkler & Artur Kaul & Hannah Kleine-Weber & Nadine Krüger & Nils C. Gassen & Marcel A. Müller & Christian Drosten & Stefan Pöhlmann, 2020. "Chloroquine does not inhibit infection of human lung cells with SARS-CoV-2," Nature, Nature, vol. 585(7826), pages 588-590, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:585:y:2020:i:7826:d:10.1038_s41586-020-2575-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2575-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Shufeng Liu & Charles B. Stauft & Prabhuanand Selvaraj & Prabha Chandrasekaran & Felice D’Agnillo & Chao-Kai Chou & Wells W. Wu & Christopher Z. Lien & Clement A. Meseda & Cyntia L. Pedro & Matthew F., 2022. "Intranasal delivery of a rationally attenuated SARS-CoV-2 is immunogenic and protective in Syrian hamsters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.

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