Pinanamine Is a Promising Lead Compound against Influenza A Virus: Evidence from in Vitro and in Vivo Efficacy Compared to Amantadine

抄録

Influenza A viruses with the presence of mutations in M2 still circulate and threaten to avian species and human in China. A novel M2 inhibitor pinanamine was previously identified as an antiviral agent by an in vitro assay. In this study, we monitored the activity of pinanamine against influenza A/FM1/47 (H1N1) virus infection in cell culture and mice. Pinanamine showed more potent antiviral effect than ribavirin, and was as effective as oseltamivir carboxylate and amantadine in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Pinanamine at dose of 50 mg/kg/d administrated once a day for 6 d starting 24 h prior to virus exposure promoted survival rate of infected mice to 100% (p<0.001) and produced significant reduction (p<0.001) in lung virus yields and lung index. Even lower the dose of 3.1 mg/kg/d, pinanamine was 60% protective (p<0.05), which was equivalent to treatment with amantadine at 50 mg/kg/d. Our finding highlights the potential of pinanamine as a promising lead compound for influenza A virus.