Yao Yao, Jing Rui, Liu Xiang, Kang Li, Liu Pinghuang
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.
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.
Virology. 2025 Mar;604:110422. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2025.110422. Epub 2025 Jan 23.
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.
