Repurposing drugs targeting the P2X7 receptor to limit hyperinflammation and disease during influenza virus infection

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Severe influenza A virus (IAV) infections are associated with damaging hyperinflammation that can be fatal. There is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic agents to treat severe and pathogenic IAV infections. Repurposing of drugs with an existing and studied pharmacokinetic and safety profile is a highly attractive potential strategy. We have previously demonstrated that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays time-dependent roles during severe IAV infection with early protective responses and later dysregulation leading to excessive inflammation, contributing to disease severity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We tested two existing drugs, probenecid and AZ11645373, to target P2X7..