Systematic review of the antiviral properties of TRIM56: a potential therapeutic intervention for COVID-19

The tripartite motif (TRIM) plays various roles in pathological and physiological functions, including neurological diseases, genetic disorders, carcinogenesis, innate immune signaling, and antiviral activity. TRIM56 is a cytoplasmic protein whose expression is stimulated by type I interferon and may function as an antiviral agent. Here, the authors conducted a systematic search on papers that reported antiviral effects of TRIM56.The authors conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed database without time or language limitation, after using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) Database terms. Initially, a structured search and full article review yielded 31 papers. Relevant original and review articles on TRIM56 were included. The reference lists were then reviewed, and the cited articles were added. Expert opinion: TRIM56 has been shown to have direct antiviral actions against positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses from the families Flaviviridae, Coronaviridae, and Retroviridae. Moreover, it may be effective against negative-sense single-strand RNA viruses from the families Paramyxoviridae and Orthomyxoviridae, as well as a DNA virus, Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). These studies could suggest the potential of a TRIM56-based antiviral against COVID-19 from the family Coronaviridae, containing single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. However, its efficacy and antiviral mechanisms need to be further examined.