Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has reemerged as a global pathogen causing serious public health threat and socio-economic damage, particularly due to the absence of specific antivirals. Retinoids have been reported to exhibit antiviral potentials against multiple viral infections. In the present study, Tretinoin (TR) or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was evaluated for its anti-CHIKV activity using in vitro , in vivo , and ex vivo models. TR was able to impede CHIKV infection efficiently in Vero and physiologically relevant muscle cells, C2C12, with drastic reduction in the viral RNA, proteins and progeny formation. The IC 50 of TR against CHIKV was estimated to be 20.05 µM and 19.71 µM in Vero and C2C12 cells, respectively. In addition, the inhibition was effective during entry as well as in the early stages of post CHIKV-infection. Notably, TR showed remarkable virucidal activity. Next, global transcriptome profile demonstrated that the signaling by Retinoic acid pathway was highly upregulated after CHIKV infection and Retinoic acid receptors (RAR), specifically RAR-β are the key mediators for the anti-CHIKV effect of TR. Further, the drug was also capable to modulate CHIKV-induced inflammatory responses by reducing the phosphorylated MAPKs, NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, TR protected C57BL/6 mice from CHIKV challenge by diminishing viral burden leading to reduced clinical scores and better survival. Similar observation was also noticed in the ex vivo model of CHIKV-infected hPBMC-derived monocyte-macrophage populations. In conclusion, this work demonstrated the repurposing potential of TR against CHIKV infection for the first time, encouraging its clinical validation towards future therapeutics.
IMPORTANCE
CHIKV is an arbovirus causing Chikungunya Fever (CHIKF) leading to debilitating arthralgia and myalgia. The unavailability of licensed antivirals or potent vaccines against CHIKV encourages extensive research to find a therapeutic cure. Retinoids, the derivatives of vitamin A, have been repurposed as antiviral agents against a broad range of viruses; however, their efficacy against alphaviruses remains unexplored. Accordingly, Tretinoin (TR), also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), was validated for anti-CHIKV efficacy in this investigation. Significant perturbation of CHIKV titer through the modulation of Retinoic acid receptors (RAR) was observed upon drug-treatment. Further, TR reduced major inflammatory markers (MAPKs and proinflammatory cytokines) supporting its anti-inflammatory effect. Further, its anti-CHIKV potential was validated in the mouse model and hPBMC-derived monocyte-macrophage cells, indicating the pre-clinical efficacy. Finally, this is the first study to report the anti-CHIKV property of Tretinoin using in vitro , in vivo , and ex vivo approaches suggesting its repurposing potential.