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L-Carnitine Tartrate Downregulates the ACE2 Receptor and Limits SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Aouatef Bellamine1, Tram N Q Pham2, Jaspreet Jain2

  • 1Lonza Consumer Health, Morristown, NJ 07960, USA.

Nutrients
|April 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

L-carnitine tartrate supplementation reduced key SARS-CoV-2 host factors like ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in humans and rodents. This suggests L-carnitine tartrate may be a potential therapeutic to limit SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a global pandemic, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
  • Existing treatments and vaccines are being explored, alongside new drug development.
  • Host dependency factors are critical for viral entry and replication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of L-carnitine tartrate on SARS-CoV-2 host dependency factors.
  • To evaluate L-carnitine tartrate's potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.
  • To explore L-carnitine tartrate as a potential therapeutic intervention for SARS-CoV-2.

Main Methods:

  • Supplementation with L-carnitine tartrate in humans and rodents.
  • Measurement of key host dependency factors: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), and Furin.
  • In vitro infection assays using Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells pre-treated with L-carnitine tartrate.
  • Analysis of ACE2 mRNA expression levels.

Main Results:

  • L-carnitine tartrate supplementation significantly decreased ACE2, TMPRSS2, and Furin levels.
  • Pre-treatment with L-carnitine tartrate dose-dependently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection in Calu-3 cells.
  • Inhibition of infection correlated with reduced ACE2 mRNA expression.

Conclusions:

  • L-carnitine tartrate demonstrates potential in reducing key factors essential for SARS-CoV-2 entry.
  • L-carnitine tartrate exhibits in vitro efficacy in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Further clinical trials are warranted to assess L-carnitine tartrate's therapeutic value against SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords:
ACE-2COVID-19FurinL-carnitineSARS-CoV-2TMPRSS2exerciseinflammation

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