Counteraction of poly(4-vinylpyridine-n-oxide) on the depression of viral interferon induction by coal dust

Abstract

The depressive activity of coal dust on interferon induction by influenza was markedly subverted when either coal dust or LLC-MK2 cell monolayers were pretreated with poly (4-vinylpyridine-N-oside). The polymer alone neither induced interferon synthesis, inhibited viral induction of interferon, influenced viral multiplication, nor affected cellular-induced resistance by interferon. Absorption of the polymer to coal dust not only occurred at a more rapid rate than to cell monolayers, but also less polymer was required to pretreat coal dust than cell monolayers to achieve comparable amelioration of interferon production. The polymer effectively negated the adverse activity of coal dust particles, irrespective of the latter's size (is less than 2.0 to 74.0 mum). Virus multiplication in the presence of coal dust=treated cell monolayers attained a level that was twofol higher than that noted with either polymer-pretreated coal dust or polymer-pretreated cell monolayers. Interferon production was almost completely inhibited in the presence of coal dust; pretreating coal dust or cells with the polymer abrogated this inhibitory activity of coal dust. It is tentatively suggested that coal dust particles per se directly interact with cell membranes to subvert interferon induction and that the formation of an absorbed polymerlayer on these complexes prevents their interaction.

SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, COVID‐19 pathogenesis, and exposure to air pollution: What is the connection?

“…Conversely, interaction of lignite fly ash (a component of coal particulate emissions) with cell membranes promoted influenza viral entry, increasing viral replication and suppressing influenza-induced interferon production. 171,172 Since SARS-CoV-1 entry utilizes pH-dependent endocytosis similarly to influenza, 173 it is also possible that PM exposure affects viral entry and uncoating in this manner. Both PM 2.5 and PM 10 have been demonstrated to enter trophoblasts via endocytosis, 174 and exposure to combustion-derived PM promoted lysosomal permeabilization.…”

Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs with N-Oxide Functionalities

“…Polymeric N -oxides have been known for a while and used as oxidants in organic synthesis, as interlayer materials for solar cells , and for application in nonlinear optics . In a pharmaceutical context, polyvinylpyridine- N -oxide has been explored for the treatment of silicosis, a lung fibrosis induced by quartz fiber , and the negative effects of coal dust . The use of polymeric N -oxides as stealth materials has recently been described and has found numerous applications in the past few years (Figure B).…”

“… 162 In a pharmaceutical context, polyvinylpyridine- N -oxide has been explored for the treatment of silicosis, a lung fibrosis induced by quartz fiber 163 , 164 and the negative effects of coal dust. 165 The use of polymeric N -oxides as stealth materials has recently been described and has found numerous applications in the past few years ( Figure 15 B). Polyacrylamide-derived N -oxides have been demonstrated to have low protein binding and low immunogenicity as a polymer hydrogel and also after surface-initiated grafting of the polymeric N -oxide from gold surfaces 11 and membranes.…”