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Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte platform screens inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Williams, Thomas L. 
Colzani, Maria T. 
Macrae, Robyn G. C.  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8129-7242
Bloor, Stuart 

Abstract

Abstract: Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities are more susceptible to severe infection with SARS-CoV-2, known to directly cause pathological damage to cardiovascular tissue. We outline a screening platform using human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, confirmed to express the protein machinery critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a SARS-CoV-2 spike-pseudotyped virus system. The method has allowed us to identify benztropine and DX600 as novel inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a clinically relevant stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte line. Discovery of new medicines will be critical for protecting the heart in patients with SARS-CoV-2, and for individuals where vaccination is contraindicated.

Description

Funder: Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Biomedical Resources Grant (University of Cambridge, Cardiovascular Theme RG64226

Keywords

Article, /631/154/436, /631/532/2440, /14, /14/19, article

Journal Title

Communications Biology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2399-3642

Volume Title

4

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (Wellcome) (203814/Z/16/A, WT107715/Z/15/Z, 203814/Z/16/A, 208363/Z/17/Z, 203814/Z/16/A, 210688/Z/18/Z)
British Heart Foundation (BHF) (FS/17/61/33473, TAF 03, RM/17/2/33380, TAF 03, FS/17/61/33473, FS/18/46/33663, RM/17/2/33380)