Sclareol can effectively ameliorate Feline calicivirus induced lung injury via the inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis.

Abstract

Caliciviridae are important pathogens of humans and animals that cause significant and sometimes lethal diseases; however, despite substantial research efforts, specific antiviral treatments for Caliciviridae viruses are lacking. Sclareol is a labdane-type diterpenoid natural fragrance compound with a wide array of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. This study revealed that sclareol has a good antiviral effect against Feline calicivirus (FCV) (a surrogate for human norovirus). Our research revealed that sclareol strongly suppressed FCV replication in CRFK. The RNA-seq analysis results revealed that sclareol can significantly inhibit the proliferation of FCVs by influencing the TNF-α signalling pathway. Moreover, knocking down the TNF-associated receptor TNFR significantly reduced viral replication. Further investigation revealed that sclareol treatment significantly inhibited FCV-induced apoptosis, and we found that the activator of apoptosis PAC-1 can significantly restore the antiviral effect of sclareol. Moreover, we also found that sclareol has an anti-inflammatory effect through the suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production and that the PEGinflammatory response plays an important role in viral replication. Moreover, through in vivo studies, we found that sclareol relieved pulmonary inflammation and reduced apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and pulmonary oedema induced by viral infection in cats. The sclareol treatment group presented significantly reduced expression of inflammatory factors associated with lung injury, including TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 and CXCL-8. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that sclareol might be a potential agent for treating FCV infection and other Caliciviridae viruses.