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Butyrate Protects against SARS-CoV-2-Induced Tissue Damage in Golden Hamsters
Huan Yu1, Lunzhi Yuan2, Zhigang Yan1
1Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Joint Laboratory for International Collaboration in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases (Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education), Joint Institute of Virology (Shantou University/The University of Hong Kong), Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, China.
Abstract:
Butyrate, produced by gut microbe during dietary fiber fermentation, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on chronic inflammation diseases, yet it remains to be explored whether butyrate has protective effects against viral infections. Here, we demonstrated that butyrate alleviated tissue injury in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected golden hamsters supplemented with butyrate before and during the infection. Butyrate-treated hamsters showed augmentation of type I interferon (IFN) response and activation of endothelial cells without exaggerated inflammation. In addition, butyrate regulated redox homeostasis by enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to inhibit excessive apoptotic cell death. Therefore, butyrate exhibited effective prevention against SARS-CoV-2 by upregulating antiviral immune responses and promoting cell survival.
