Ponatinib and other clinically approved inhibitors of Src and Rho-A kinases abrogate dengue virus serotype 2- induced endothelial permeability

Severe dengue often presents as shock syndrome with enhanced vascular permeability and plasma leakage into tissue spaces. <i>In vitro</i> studies have documented the role of Src family kinases (SFKs) and RhoA-kinases (ROCK) in dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2)-induced endothelial permeability. Here, we show that the FDA-approved SFK inhibitors Bosutinib, Vandetanib and Ponatinib, as well as the ROCK inhibitors, Netarsudil and Ripasudil significantly inhibit DENV2-induced endothelial permeability. In cultured telomerase immortalized human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1), treatment with these inhibitors reduced the phosphorylation of VE-Cadherin, Src and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) proteins that were upregulated during DENV2 infection. It also prevented the loss of VE-Cadherin from the inter-endothelial cell junctions induced by viral infection. In <i>in-vivo</i> studies using DENV2-infected AG129 IFN receptor-α/β/γ deficient mice, ponatinib, when administered 24 h post-infection onwards, demonstrated significant benefits in improving body weight, clinical outcomes, and survival rates. While all virus-infected, untreated mice died by day-10 post-infection, 80% of the ponatinib-treated mice survived, and approximately 60% were still alive at the end of the 15-day observation period. The treatment also significantly reduced disease severity factors such as vascular leakage, thrombocytopenia; mRNA transcript levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α; and restored liver function. Comparable effects were observed even when ponatinib treatment was initiated after symptom onset. The results highlight ponatinib as an effective therapeutic option in severe dengue; and also a similar potential for other FDA- approved SFK and ROCK inhibitors.