scholarly journals Molecular relationships between SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and LIFR, a pneumonia protective IL-6 family cytokine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mtakai Ngara ◽  
Geoffrey Henry Siwo
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Functional Class ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Envelope Gene ◽  
Human Leukemia ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Inhibitory Signaling ◽  
Family Cytokine

The fine-tuned control of immune responses is attained by pairs of activating and inhibitory signaling receptors which modulate the quality and magnitude of immune responses. Some viruses exploit these pathways to enter host cells as well as interfere with immune responses. Here, we report that the SARS-CoV-1/2 Spike proteins (S) contain a potential inhibitory tyrosine-based immunoreceptor motif (ITIM) with the D614G variant occurring within this motif. Through an in silico screen of ITIM-containing human proteins, we find that the S-located ITIM is closely related to a previously reported ITIM in the cytoplasmic tail of the human Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor (LIFR), a pneumonia protective IL-6 family cytokine receptor. To infer potential functional interactions between SARS-CoV-2 infection and LIFR expression, we performed single-cell transcriptome analysis of public datasets of lung tissues from healthy individuals and COVID-19 patients. We show that transcripts of LIFR and its ligand LIF are highly expressed in SARS-CoV-2 susceptible lung cells from mild and severe COVID-19 patients but not in healthy individuals. In addition, the human endogenous retroviral envelope gene (ERVW-1) encoding a fusogenic protein of the same functional class as the S protein, is induced in SARS-CoV-2 susceptible cell subpopulations in COVID-19 patients with no detectable expression in healthy individuals. We also report that pulmonary epithelial cells express transcripts of several immunoreceptors including the ITIM-containing antibody receptor FCGR2B which is detectable in healthy and severe COVID-19 cases but not in mild cases. These results suggest that molecular dysregulation of ITIM-mediated inhibitory signaling by the SARS-CoV-2 S protein may play a role in COVID-19 immunopathology.

scholarly journals Stereotypic neutralizing VH antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain in COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals

2021 ◽  
pp. eabd6990
Author(s):  
Sang Il Kim ◽  
Jinsung Noh ◽  
Sujeong Kim ◽  
Younggeun Choi ◽  
Duck Kyun Yoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Healthy Individuals

Stereotypic antibody clonotypes exist in healthy individuals and may provide protective immunity against viral infections by neutralization. We observed that 13 out of 17 patients with COVID-19 had stereotypic variable heavy chain (VH) antibody clonotypes directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. These antibody clonotypes were comprised of immunoglobulin heavy variable (IGHV)3-53 or IGHV3-66 and immunoglobulin heavy joining (IGHJ)6 genes. These clonotypes included IgM, IgG3, IgG1, IgA1, IgG2, and IgA2 subtypes and had minimal somatic mutations, which suggested swift class switching after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The different immunoglobulin heavy variable chains were paired with diverse light chains resulting in binding to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Human antibodies specific for the RBD can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting entry into host cells. We observed that one of these stereotypic neutralizing antibodies could inhibit viral replication in vitro using a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2. We also found that these VH clonotypes existed in six out of 10 healthy individuals, with IgM isotypes predominating. These findings suggest that stereotypic clonotypes can develop de novo from naïve B cells and not from memory B cells established from prior exposure to similar viruses. The expeditious and stereotypic expansion of these clonotypes may have occurred in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 because they were already present.

scholarly journals D936Y and Other Mutations in the Fusion Core of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Heptad Repeat 1: Frequency, Geographical Distribution, and Structural Effect

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2622
Author(s):  
Romina Oliva ◽  
Abdul Rajjak Shaikh ◽  
Andrea Petta ◽  
Anna Vangone ◽  
Luigi Cavallo
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Salt Bridge ◽  
Structural Effect ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Heptad Repeat ◽  
Genomic Sequences ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Virus Infectivity ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Global Threat

The crown of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is constituted by its spike (S) glycoprotein. S protein mediates the SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cells. The “fusion core” of the heptad repeat 1 (HR1) on S plays a crucial role in the virus infectivity, as it is part of a key membrane fusion architecture. While SARS-CoV-2 was becoming a global threat, scientists have been accumulating data on the virus at an impressive pace, both in terms of genomic sequences and of three-dimensional structures. On 15 February 2021, from the SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences in the GISAID resource, we collected 415,673 complete S protein sequences and identified all the mutations occurring in the HR1 fusion core. This is a 21-residue segment, which, in the post-fusion conformation of the protein, gives many strong interactions with the heptad repeat 2, bringing viral and cellular membranes in proximity for fusion. We investigated the frequency and structural effect of novel mutations accumulated over time in such a crucial region for the virus infectivity. Three mutations were quite frequent, occurring in over 0.1% of the total sequences. These were S929T, D936Y, and S949F, all in the N-terminal half of the HR1 fusion core segment and particularly spread in Europe and USA. The most frequent of them, D936Y, was present in 17% of sequences from Finland and 12% of sequences from Sweden. In the post-fusion conformation of the unmutated S protein, D936 is involved in an inter-monomer salt bridge with R1185. We investigated the effect of the D936Y mutation on the pre-fusion and post-fusion state of the protein by using molecular dynamics, showing how it especially affects the latter one.

scholarly journals Safety and immunogenicity of an mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Kremsner ◽  
Philipp Mann ◽  
Arne Kroidl ◽  
Isabel Leroux-Roels ◽  
Christoph Schindler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Lipid Nanoparticles ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Phase 1 Study ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Dosage Escalation

Summary Background We used the RNActive® technology platform (CureVac N.V., Tübingen, Germany) to prepare CVnCoV, a COVID-19 vaccine containing sequence-optimized mRNA coding for a stabilized form of SARS-CoV‑2 spike (S) protein encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP). Methods This is an interim analysis of a dosage escalation phase 1 study in healthy 18–60-year-old volunteers in Hannover, Munich and Tübingen, Germany, and Ghent, Belgium. After giving 2 intramuscular doses of CVnCoV or placebo 28 days apart we assessed solicited local and systemic adverse events (AE) for 7 days and unsolicited AEs for 28 days after each vaccination. Immunogenicity was measured as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV‑2 S‑protein and receptor binding domain (RBD), and SARS-CoV‑2 neutralizing titers (MN50). Results In 245 volunteers who received 2 CVnCoV vaccinations (2 μg, n = 47, 4 μg, n = 48, 6 μg, n = 46, 8 μg, n = 44, 12 μg, n = 28) or placebo (n = 32) there were no vaccine-related serious AEs. Dosage-dependent increases in frequency and severity of solicited systemic AEs, and to a lesser extent local AEs, were mainly mild or moderate and transient in duration. Dosage-dependent increases in IgG antibodies to S‑protein and RBD and MN50 were evident in all groups 2 weeks after the second dose when 100% (23/23) seroconverted to S‑protein or RBD, and 83% (19/23) seroconverted for MN50 in the 12 μg group. Responses to 12 μg were comparable to those observed in convalescent sera from known COVID-19 patients. Conclusion In this study 2 CVnCoV doses were safe, with acceptable reactogenicity and 12 μg dosages elicited levels of immune responses that overlapped those observed in convalescent sera.

scholarly journals Arginase 1 (Arg1) as an Up-Regulated Gene in COVID-19 Patients: A Promising Marker in COVID-19 Immunopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afshin Derakhshani ◽  
Nima Hemmat ◽  
Zahra Asadzadeh ◽  
Moslem Ghaseminia ◽  
Mahdi Abdoli Shadbad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Roc Analysis ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Cdna Synthesis ◽  
Arginase 1 ◽  
Global Pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been declared a global pandemic. It is well-established that SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to dysregulated immune responses. Arginase-1 (Arg1), which has a pivotal role in immune cells, can be expressed in most of the myeloid cells, e.g., neutrophils and macrophages. Arg1 has been associated with the suppression of antiviral immune responses. Methods: Whole blood was taken from 21 COVID-19 patients and 21 healthy individuals, and after RNA extraction and complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, gene expression of Arg1 was measured by real-time PCR. Results: The qPCR results showed that the expression of Arg1 was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.01). The relative expression analysis demonstrated there were approximately 2.3 times increased Arg1 expression in the whole blood of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed a considerable diagnostic value for Arg1 expression in COVID-19 (p = 0.0002 and AUC = 0.8401). Conclusion: Arg1 might be a promising marker in the pathogenesis of the disease, and it could be a valuable diagnostic tool.

scholarly journals Amino Acids 1055 to 1192 in the S2 Region of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus S Protein Induce Neutralizing Antibodies: Implications for the Development of Vaccines and Antiviral Agents

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 3289-3296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Choong-Tat Keng ◽  
Aihua Zhang ◽  
Shuo Shen ◽  
Kuo-Ming Lip ◽  
Burtram C. Fielding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Heptad Repeat ◽  
Antigenic Determinants ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
S Protein

ABSTRACT The spike (S) protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) interacts with cellular receptors to mediate membrane fusion, allowing viral entry into host cells; hence it is recognized as the primary target of neutralizing antibodies, and therefore knowledge of antigenic determinants that can elicit neutralizing antibodies could be beneficial for the development of a protective vaccine. Here, we expressed five different fragments of S, covering the entire ectodomain (amino acids 48 to 1192), as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and used the purified proteins to raise antibodies in rabbits. By Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation experiments, we showed that all the antibodies are specific and highly sensitive to both the native and denatured forms of the full-length S protein expressed in virus-infected cells and transfected cells, respectively. Indirect immunofluorescence performed on fixed but unpermeabilized cells showed that these antibodies can recognize the mature form of S on the cell surface. All the antibodies were also able to detect the maturation of the 200-kDa form of S to the 210-kDa form by pulse-chase experiments. When the antibodies were tested for their ability to inhibit SARS-CoV propagation in Vero E6 culture, it was found that the anti-SΔ10 antibody, which was targeted to amino acid residues 1029 to 1192 of S, which include heptad repeat 2, has strong neutralizing activities, suggesting that this region of S carries neutralizing epitopes and is very important for virus entry into cells.

MIP-1α and MIP-1β differentially mediate mucosal and systemic adaptive immunity

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Lillard ◽  
Udai P. Singh ◽  
Prosper N. Boyaka ◽  
Shailesh Singh ◽  
Dennis D. Taub ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Secretory Iga ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Cc Chemokines ◽  
Cellular Immune

AbstractMacrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β are distinct but highly homologous CC chemokines produced by a variety of host cells in response to various external stimuli and share affinity for CCR5. To better elucidate the role of these CC chemokines in adaptive immunity, we have characterized the affects of MIP-1α and MIP-1β on cellular and humoral immune responses. MIP-1α stimulated strong antigen (Ag)–specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM responses, while MIP-1β promoted lower IgG and IgM but higher serum IgA and IgE antibody (Ab) responses. MIP-1α elevated Ag-specific IgG1 and IgG2b followed by IgG2a and IgG3 subclass responses, while MIP-1β only stimulated IgG1 and IgG2b subclasses. Correspondingly, MIP-1β produced higher titers of Ag-specific mucosal secretory IgA Ab levels when compared with MIP-1α. Splenic T cells from MIP-1α– or MIP-1β–treated mice displayed higher Ag-specific Th1 (interferon-γ [IFN-γ]) as well as selective Th2 (interleukin-5 [IL-5] and IL-6) cytokine responses than did T cells from control groups. Interestingly, mucosally derived T cells from MIP-1β–treated mice displayed higher levels of IL-4 and IL-6 compared with MIP-1α–treated mice. However, MIP-1α effectively enhanced Ag-specific cell-mediated immune responses. In correlation with their selective effects on humoral and cellular immune responses, these chemokines also differentially attract CD4+ versus CD8+ T cells and modulate CD40, CD80, and CD86 expressed by B220+ cells as well as CD28, 4-1BB, and gp39 expression by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Taken together, these studies suggest that these CC chemokines differentially enhance mucosal and serum humoral as well as cellular immune responses.

scholarly journals Hierarchy of Susceptibility of Dendritic Cell Subsets to Infection by Leishmania major: Inverse Relationship to Interleukin-12 Production

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 3874-3880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Henri ◽  
Joan Curtis ◽  
Hubertus Hochrein ◽  
David Vremec ◽  
Ken Shortman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Mhc Class Ii ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Parasitophorous Vacuole ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
T Cell Immune Responses ◽  
Antigen Presenting

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells which initiate and regulate T-cell immune responses. Here we show that murine splenic DCs can be ranked on the basis of their ability to phagocytose and harbor the obligately intracellular parasite Leishmania major. CD4+ CD8− DCs are the most permissive host cells for L. major amastigotes, followed by CD4− CD8− DCs; CD4− CD8+ cells are the least permissive. However, the least susceptible CD4− CD8+ DC subset was the best interleukin-12 producer in response to infection. Infection did not induce in any DC subset production of the proinflammatory cytokine gamma interferon and nitric oxide associated with the induction of Th1 responses. The number of parasites phagocytosed by DCs was low, no more than 3 organisms per cell, compared to more than 10 organisms per macrophage. In infected DCs, the parasites are located in a parasitophorous vacuole containing both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 molecules, similar to their location in the infected macrophage. The parasite-driven redistribution of MHC class II to this compartment indicates that infected DCs should be able to present parasite antigen.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 S protein:ACE2 interaction reveals novel allosteric targets

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Palur V Raghuvamsi ◽  
Nikhil Kumar Tulsian ◽  
Firdaus Samsudin ◽  
Xinlei Qian ◽  
Kiren Purushotorman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Heptad Repeat ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Exchange Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Central Helix ◽  
Interaction Interface ◽  
Therapeutic Development ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

The Spike (S) protein is the main handle for SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells via surface ACE2 receptors. How ACE2 binding activates proteolysis of S protein is unknown. Here, using amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations, we have mapped the S:ACE2 interaction interface and uncovered long-range allosteric propagation of ACE2 binding to sites necessary for host-mediated proteolysis of S protein, critical for viral host entry. Unexpectedly, ACE2 binding enhances dynamics at a distal S1/S2 cleavage site and flanking protease docking site ~27 Å away while dampening dynamics of the stalk hinge (central helix and heptad repeat) regions ~130 Å away. This highlights that the stalk and proteolysis sites of the S protein are dynamic hotspots in the pre-fusion state. Our findings provide a dynamics map of the S:ACE2 interface in solution and also offer mechanistic insights into how ACE2 binding is allosterically coupled to distal proteolytic processing sites and viral-host membrane fusion. Our findings highlight protease docking sites flanking the S1/S2 cleavage site, fusion peptide and heptad repeat 1 (HR1) as alternate allosteric hotspot targets for potential therapeutic development.

scholarly journals Extracellular Vesicles from Different Pneumococcal Serotypes Are Internalized by Macrophages and Induce Host Immune Responses

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1530
Author(s):  
Alfonso Olaya-Abril ◽  
Rafael Prados-Rosales ◽  
José A. González-Reyes ◽  
Arturo Casadevall ◽  
Liise-anne Pirofski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Biological Activity ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Pneumococcal Serotypes ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Host Immune Responses ◽  
Serotype 1 ◽  
Transient Loss

Bacterial extracellular vesicles are membranous ultrastructures released from the cell surface. They play important roles in the interaction between the host and the bacteria. In this work, we show how extracellular vesicles produced by four different serotypes of the important human pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae, are internalized by murine J774A.1 macrophages via fusion with the membrane of the host cells. We also evaluated the capacity of pneumococcal extracellular vesicles to elicit an immune response by macrophages. Macrophages treated with the vesicles underwent a serotype-dependent transient loss of viability, which was further reverted. The vesicles induced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which was higher for serotype 1 and serotype 8-derived vesicles. These results demonstrate the biological activity of extracellular vesicles of clinically important pneumococcal serotypes.

scholarly journals Current Potential Therapeutic Approaches against SARS-CoV-2: A Review

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1620
Author(s):  
Dharmendra Kumar Yadav ◽  
Desh Deepak Singh ◽  
Ihn Han ◽  
Yogesh Kumar ◽  
Eun-Ha Choi
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Hiv Protease ◽  
Hiv Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Nucleotide Analogue ◽  
Infection Treatment ◽  
Current Potential

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a serious threat to public health worldwide and, to date, no effective treatment is available. Thus, we herein review the pharmaceutical approaches to SARS-CoV-2 infection treatment. Numerous candidate medicines that can prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication have been proposed. These medicines include inhibitors of serine protease TMPRSS2 and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The S protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the receptor in host cells. ACE2 inhibitors block TMPRSS2 and S protein priming, thus preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry to host cells. Moreover, antiviral medicines (including the nucleotide analogue remdesivir, the HIV protease inhibitors lopinavir and ritonavir, and wide-spectrum antiviral antibiotics arbidol and favipiravir) have been shown to reduce the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 as well as morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19.

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