A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation

The influenza A virus (IAV), renowned for its high contagiousness and potential to catalyze global pandemics, poses significant challenges due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Given the critical role of RNA polymerase in IAV replication, it stands out as a promising target for anti-IAV th...

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Main Authors: Kunyu Lu, Jianfu He, Chongjun Hong, Haowei Li, Jiaai Ruan, Jinshen Wang, Haoxing Yuan, Binhao Rong, Chan Yang, Gaopeng Song, Shuwen Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221138352500365X
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author Kunyu Lu
Jianfu He
Chongjun Hong
Haowei Li
Jiaai Ruan
Jinshen Wang
Haoxing Yuan
Binhao Rong
Chan Yang
Gaopeng Song
Shuwen Liu
author_facet Kunyu Lu
Jianfu He
Chongjun Hong
Haowei Li
Jiaai Ruan
Jinshen Wang
Haoxing Yuan
Binhao Rong
Chan Yang
Gaopeng Song
Shuwen Liu
author_sort Kunyu Lu
collection DOAJ
description The influenza A virus (IAV), renowned for its high contagiousness and potential to catalyze global pandemics, poses significant challenges due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Given the critical role of RNA polymerase in IAV replication, it stands out as a promising target for anti-IAV therapies. In this study, we identified a novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative, A5, as a potent inhibitor of the PAC–PB1N polymerase subunit interaction, with an IC50 value of 0.96 ± 0.21 μmol/L. A5 specifically targets the highly conserved PAC domain and demonstrates remarkable efficacy against both laboratory-adapted and clinically isolated IAV strains, including multidrug-resistant strains, with EC50 values ranging from 0.60 to 1.83 μmol/L. Notably, when combined with oseltamivir, A5 exhibits synergistic effects both in vitro and in vivo. In a murine model, dose-dependent administration of A5 leads to a significant reduction in IAV titers, resulting in a high survival rate among treated mice. Additionally, A5 treatment inhibits virus-induced Toll-like receptor 4 activation, attenuates cytokine responses, and protects against IAV-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages. In summary, A5 emerges as a novel inhibitor with high efficiency and broad-spectrum anti-influenza activity.
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spelling doaj-art-bb92bd13107545d49bfb83c9f673b8302025-08-20T05:06:31ZengElsevierActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B2211-38352025-08-011584156417310.1016/j.apsb.2025.05.031A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammationKunyu Lu0Jianfu He1Chongjun Hong2Haowei Li3Jiaai Ruan4Jinshen Wang5Haoxing Yuan6Binhao Rong7Chan Yang8Gaopeng Song9Shuwen Liu10Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaKey Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaKey Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, ChinaThe Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People’s Hospital), Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523018, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Corresponding authors.Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Corresponding authors.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism Research and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People’s Hospital), Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523018, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Research in South China, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Corresponding authors.The influenza A virus (IAV), renowned for its high contagiousness and potential to catalyze global pandemics, poses significant challenges due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Given the critical role of RNA polymerase in IAV replication, it stands out as a promising target for anti-IAV therapies. In this study, we identified a novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative, A5, as a potent inhibitor of the PAC–PB1N polymerase subunit interaction, with an IC50 value of 0.96 ± 0.21 μmol/L. A5 specifically targets the highly conserved PAC domain and demonstrates remarkable efficacy against both laboratory-adapted and clinically isolated IAV strains, including multidrug-resistant strains, with EC50 values ranging from 0.60 to 1.83 μmol/L. Notably, when combined with oseltamivir, A5 exhibits synergistic effects both in vitro and in vivo. In a murine model, dose-dependent administration of A5 leads to a significant reduction in IAV titers, resulting in a high survival rate among treated mice. Additionally, A5 treatment inhibits virus-induced Toll-like receptor 4 activation, attenuates cytokine responses, and protects against IAV-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages. In summary, A5 emerges as a novel inhibitor with high efficiency and broad-spectrum anti-influenza activity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221138352500365XInfluenza A virusRNA polymeraseProtein–protein interactionPentacyclic triterpenoidsOleanolic acid amide derivativesDrug-resistant strains
spellingShingle Kunyu Lu
Jianfu He
Chongjun Hong
Haowei Li
Jiaai Ruan
Jinshen Wang
Haoxing Yuan
Binhao Rong
Chan Yang
Gaopeng Song
Shuwen Liu
A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
Influenza A virus
RNA polymerase
Protein–protein interaction
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Oleanolic acid amide derivatives
Drug-resistant strains
title A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
title_full A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
title_fullStr A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
title_full_unstemmed A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
title_short A novel C-3-substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza A by targeting PA–PB1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
title_sort novel c 3 substituted oleanolic acid benzyl amide derivative exhibits therapeutic potential against influenza a by targeting pa pb1 interactions and modulating host macrophage inflammation
topic Influenza A virus
RNA polymerase
Protein–protein interaction
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Oleanolic acid amide derivatives
Drug-resistant strains
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221138352500365X
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