Xinxin Wang,Jie Luo,Zhiyuan Wen,Lei Shuai,Chong Wang,Gongxun Zhong,Xijun He,Huizhen Cao,Renqiang Liu,Jinying Ge,Ronghong Hua,Ziruo Sun,Xijun Wang,Jinliang Wang,Zhigao Bu

PLoS Pathog.2022 Feb 17;18(2):e1010343.doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010343. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The continuous emergence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and the increasing number of breakthrough infection cases among vaccinated people support the urgent need for research and development of antiviral drugs. Viral entry is an intriguing target for antiviral drug development. We found that diltiazem, a blocker of the L-type calcium channel Cav1.2 pore-forming subunit (Cav1.2 α1c) and an FDA-approved drug, inhibits the binding and internalization of SARS-CoV-2, and decreases SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells and mouse lung. Cav1.2 α1c interacts with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2, and affects the attachment and internalization of SARS-CoV-2. Our finding suggests that diltiazem has potential as a drug against SARS-CoV-2 infection and that Cav1.2 α1c is a promising target for antiviral drug development for COVID-19.