Cepharanthine: A promising natural compound against feline infectious peritonitis virus infection and associated inflammation

  • Virology. 2025 Jan 23:604:110422. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2025.110422.
Yao Yao  1 ,  Rui Jing  1 ,  Xiang Liu  1 ,  Li Kang  1 ,  Pinghuang Liu  2
Affiliations
  • 1. National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
  • 2. National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 39884162 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2025.110422
Abstract

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease in cats caused by feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), has limited treatment options and lacks effective vaccines. Cepharanthine (CEP), a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses many medicinal properties, including Antiviral activities. However, the role of CEP in management of FIPV Infection remains poorly understood. Here, we identified that CEP had a potent ability to inhibit FIPV Infection in vitro. CEP significantly inhibited FIPV Infection when administered at different times, with co-treatment showing the most significant inhibitory effect. Time-of-addition assays demonstrated that CEP exerted Antiviral activity during the post-entry stages of the FIPV Infection. We also verified that CEP inhibited FIPV Infection not through affecting type I interferon expression, and it could decrease pro-inflammatory factors expression induced by FIPV Infection. The combination of CEP and GS-441524 exhibited synergistic Antiviral effects against FIPV Infection. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of CEP for treatment of FIP.

Keywords
Antiviral drugs; Cepharanthine; FIPV; GS-441524.
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