RESUMO
We have previously provided the first genetic evidence that angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the critical receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and ACE2 protects the lung from injury, providing a molecular explanation for the severe lung failure and death due to SARS-CoV infections. ACE2 has now also been identified as a key receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infections, and it has been proposed that inhibiting this interaction might be used in treating patients with COVID-19. However, it is not known whether human recombinant soluble ACE2 (hrsACE2) blocks growth of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we show that clinical grade hrsACE2 reduced SARS-CoV-2 recovery from Vero cells by a factor of 1,000-5,000. An equivalent mouse rsACE2 had no effect. We also show that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect engineered human blood vessel organoids and human kidney organoids, which can be inhibited by hrsACE2. These data demonstrate that hrsACE2 can significantly block early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Assuntos
Betacoronavirus/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Coronavirus/tratamento farmacológico , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/farmacologia , Pneumonia Viral/tratamento farmacológico , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Animais , Betacoronavirus/genética , Betacoronavirus/isolamento & purificação , Betacoronavirus/ultraestrutura , Vasos Sanguíneos/virologia , COVID-19 , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humanos , Rim/citologia , Rim/virologia , Camundongos , Organoides/virologia , Pandemias , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/genética , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Receptores Virais/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Células VeroRESUMO
New SARS-CoV-2 variants are continuously emerging with critical implications for therapies or vaccinations. The 22 N-glycan sites of Spike remain highly conserved among SARS-CoV-2 variants, opening an avenue for robust therapeutic intervention. Here we used a comprehensive library of mammalian carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) to probe critical sugar residues on the full-length trimeric Spike and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Two lectins, Clec4g and CD209c, were identified to strongly bind to Spike. Clec4g and CD209c binding to Spike was dissected and visualized in real time and at single-molecule resolution using atomic force microscopy. 3D modelling showed that both lectins can bind to a glycan within the RBD-ACE2 interface and thus interferes with Spike binding to cell surfaces. Importantly, Clec4g and CD209c significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infections. These data report the first extensive map and 3D structural modelling of lectin-Spike interactions and uncovers candidate receptors involved in Spike binding and SARS-CoV-2 infections. The capacity of CLEC4G and mCD209c lectins to block SARS-CoV-2 viral entry holds promise for pan-variant therapeutic interventions.
Assuntos
Receptores Mitogênicos/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Animais , Sítios de Ligação/fisiologia , COVID-19/virologia , Linhagem Celular , Chlorocebus aethiops , Glicosilação , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Camundongos , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Ligação Proteica/fisiologia , Células Vero , Internalização do VírusRESUMO
An Amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
RESUMO
Genetic regulators and environmental stimuli modulate T cell activation in autoimmunity and cancer. The enzyme co-factor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is involved in the production of monoamine neurotransmitters, the generation of nitric oxide, and pain1,2. Here we uncover a link between these processes, identifying a fundamental role for BH4 in T cell biology. We find that genetic inactivation of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of BH4) and inhibition of sepiapterin reductase (the terminal enzyme in the synthetic pathway for BH4) severely impair the proliferation of mature mouse and human T cells. BH4 production in activated T cells is linked to alterations in iron metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics. In vivo blockade of BH4 synthesis abrogates T-cell-mediated autoimmunity and allergic inflammation, and enhancing BH4 levels through GCH1 overexpression augments responses by CD4- and CD8-expressing T cells, increasing their antitumour activity in vivo. Administration of BH4 to mice markedly reduces tumour growth and expands the population of intratumoral effector T cells. Kynurenine-a tryptophan metabolite that blocks antitumour immunity-inhibits T cell proliferation in a manner that can be rescued by BH4. Finally, we report the development of a potent SPR antagonist for possible clinical use. Our data uncover GCH1, SPR and their downstream metabolite BH4 as critical regulators of T cell biology that can be readily manipulated to either block autoimmunity or enhance anticancer immunity.
Assuntos
Doenças Autoimunes/imunologia , Biopterinas/análogos & derivados , Neoplasias/imunologia , Linfócitos T/citologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Administração Oral , Oxirredutases do Álcool/antagonistas & inibidores , Oxirredutases do Álcool/metabolismo , Animais , Doenças Autoimunes/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças Autoimunes/patologia , Biopterinas/biossíntese , Biopterinas/metabolismo , Biopterinas/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Coenzimas/metabolismo , Inibidores Enzimáticos/administração & dosagem , Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Feminino , GTP Cicloidrolase/genética , GTP Cicloidrolase/metabolismo , Humanos , Hipersensibilidade/imunologia , Ferro/metabolismo , Cinurenina/metabolismo , Cinurenina/farmacologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/patologia , Linfócitos T/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T/metabolismoRESUMO
Despite similar infection rates, COVID-19 has resulted in more deaths in men than women. To understand the underlying mechanisms behind this sex-biased difference in disease severity, we infected K18-human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mice of both sexes with SARS-CoV-2. Our study revealed a unique protein expression profile in the lung microenvironment of female mice. As a result, they were less vulnerable to severe infection, with higher ACE2 expression and a higher estrogen receptor α (ERα)/androgen receptor (AR) ratio that led to increased antiviral factor levels. In male mice, inhaling recombinant ACE2 neutralized the virus and maintained the ERα/AR ratio, thereby protecting the lungs. Our findings suggest that inhaling recombinant ACE2 could serve as a decoy receptor against SARS-CoV-2 and protect male mice by offsetting ERα-associated protective mechanisms. Additionally, our study supports the potential effectiveness of recombinant ACE2 therapy in human lung organoids infected with the Delta variant.
RESUMO
The majority of regulatory T cells (T(regs)) are believed to be of thymic origin. It has been hypothesized that this may result from unique intrathymic environmental cues, possibly requiring a dedicated antigen-presenting cell (APC). However, T cell-intrinsic developmental regulation of the susceptibility to T(reg) differentiation remains a mutually non-exclusive scenario. We found that upon exposure of monoclonal T cells of sequential developmental stages to a thymic microenvironment expressing cognate antigen, the efficiency of T(reg) induction inversely correlated with progressive maturation. This inclination of immature thymocytes toward T(reg) differentiation was even seen in an APC-free in vitro system, providing only TCR stimulation and IL-2. In support of quantitative but not qualitative features of external cues being critical, thymic epithelial cells as well as different thymic dendritic cell (DC)-subtypes efficiently induced T(reg) development of immature thymocytes, albeit at strikingly different optimal doses of cognate antigen. We propose that the intrinsically high predisposition of immature thymocytes to T(reg) development may contribute to the predominantly thymic origin of the T(reg) repertoire. The underlying instructive stimulus, however, does not require unique features of a dedicated APC and can be delivered by hematopoietic as well as epithelial thymic stromal cells.
Assuntos
Apresentação de Antígeno , Diferenciação Celular , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Timo/imunologia , Animais , Antígenos CD4/imunologia , Linhagem da Célula , Camundongos , Camundongos Mutantes , Timo/citologiaRESUMO
Recent waves of COVID-19 correlate with the emergence of the Delta and the Omicron variant. We report that the Spike trimer acts as a highly dynamic molecular caliper, thereby forming up to three tight bonds through its RBDs with ACE2 expressed on the cell surface. The Spike of both Delta and Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant enhance and markedly prolong viral attachment to the host cell receptor ACE2, as opposed to the early Wuhan-1 isolate. Delta Spike shows rapid binding of all three Spike RBDs to three different ACE2 molecules with considerably increased bond lifetime when compared to the reference strain, thereby significantly amplifying avidity. Intriguingly, Omicron (B.1.1.529) Spike displays less multivalent bindings to ACE2 molecules, yet with a ten time longer bond lifetime than Delta. Delta and Omicron (B.1.1.529) Spike variants enhance and prolong viral attachment to the host, which likely not only increases the rate of viral uptake, but also enhances the resistance of the variants against host-cell detachment by shear forces such as airflow, mucus or blood flow. We uncover distinct binding mechanisms and strategies at single-molecule resolution, employed by circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants to enhance infectivity and viral transmission.
Assuntos
Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Imagem Individual de Molécula , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Humanos , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , COVID-19/virologia , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Ligação ViralRESUMO
Despite tremendous progress in the understanding of COVID-19, mechanistic insight into immunological, disease-driving factors remains limited. We generated maVie16, a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2, by serial passaging of a human isolate. In silico modeling revealed how only three Spike mutations of maVie16 enhanced interaction with murine ACE2. maVie16 induced profound pathology in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, and the resulting mouse COVID-19 (mCOVID-19) replicated critical aspects of human disease, including early lymphopenia, pulmonary immune cell infiltration, pneumonia, and specific adaptive immunity. Inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines IFNγ and TNF substantially reduced immunopathology. Importantly, genetic ACE2-deficiency completely prevented mCOVID-19 development. Finally, inhalation therapy with recombinant ACE2 fully protected mice from mCOVID-19, revealing a novel and efficient treatment. Thus, we here present maVie16 as a new tool to model COVID-19 for the discovery of new therapies and show that disease severity is determined by cytokine-driven immunopathology and critically dependent on ACE2 in vivo.
Assuntos
Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , COVID-19/virologia , Interferon gama/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2/patogenicidade , Imunidade Adaptativa/imunologia , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/genética , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/genéticaRESUMO
As ACE2 is the critical SARS-CoV-2 receptor, we hypothesized that aerosol administration of clinical grade soluble human recombinant ACE2 (APN01) will neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in the airways, limit spread of infection in the lung, and mitigate lung damage caused by deregulated signaling in the renin-angiotensin (RAS) and Kinin pathways. Here, after demonstrating in vitro neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by APN01, and after obtaining preliminary evidence of its tolerability and preventive efficacy in a mouse model, we pursued development of an aerosol formulation. As a prerequisite to a clinical trial, we evaluated both virus binding activity and enzymatic activity for cleavage of Ang II following aerosolization. We report successful aerosolization for APN01, retaining viral binding as well as catalytic RAS activity. Dose range-finding and IND-enabling repeat-dose aerosol toxicology testing were conducted in dogs. Twice daily aerosol administration for two weeks at the maximum feasible concentration revealed no notable toxicities. Based on these results, a Phase I clinical trial in healthy volunteers has now been initiated (NCT05065645), with subsequent Phase II testing planned for individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Assuntos
Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Aerossóis , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Angiotensinas , Animais , Ensaios Clínicos Fase I como Assunto , Cães , Humanos , Camundongos , Nebulizadores e Vaporizadores , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Renina/metabolismo , Sistema Renina-Angiotensina , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
Whole-exome sequencing of two patients with idiopathic complex neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) identified biallelic variants of unknown significance within FIBCD1, encoding an endocytic acetyl group-binding transmembrane receptor with no known function in the central nervous system. We found that FIBCD1 preferentially binds and endocytoses glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chondroitin sulphate-4S (CS-4S) and regulates GAG content of the brain extracellular matrix (ECM). In silico molecular simulation studies and GAG binding analyses of patient variants determined that such variants are loss-of-function by disrupting FIBCD1-CS-4S association. Gene knockdown in flies resulted in morphological disruption of the neuromuscular junction and motor-related behavioural deficits. In humans and mice, FIBCD1 is expressed in discrete brain regions, including the hippocampus. Fibcd1 KO mice exhibited normal hippocampal neuronal morphology but impaired hippocampal-dependent learning. Further, hippocampal synaptic remodelling in acute slices from Fibcd1 KO mice was deficient but restored upon enzymatically modulating the ECM. Together, we identified FIBCD1 as an endocytic receptor for GAGs in the brain ECM and a novel gene associated with an NDD, revealing a critical role in nervous system structure, function and plasticity.
Assuntos
Transtornos do Neurodesenvolvimento , Receptores de Superfície Celular , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Endocitose , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Transtornos do Neurodesenvolvimento/genética , Receptores de Superfície Celular/metabolismoRESUMO
The recent emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants has caused considerable concern due to both reduced vaccine efficacy and escape from neutralizing antibody therapeutics. It is, therefore, paramount to develop therapeutic strategies that inhibit all known and future SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we report that all SARS-CoV-2 variants analyzed, including variants of concern (VOC) Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron, exhibit enhanced binding affinity to clinical grade and phase 2 tested recombinant human soluble ACE2 (APN01). Importantly, soluble ACE2 neutralized infection of VeroE6 cells and human lung epithelial cells by all current VOC strains with markedly enhanced potency when compared to reference SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Effective inhibition of infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants was validated and confirmed in two independent laboratories. These data show that SARS-CoV-2 variants that have emerged around the world, including current VOC and several variants of interest, can be inhibited by soluble ACE2, providing proof of principle of a pan-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic.
Assuntos
Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Humanos , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/genética , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
The concept of clonal deletion of immune cells that carry an autoreactive antigen receptor was a central prediction of Burnet's clonal selection theory. A series of classical experiments in the late 1980s revealed that certain immature thymocytes upon encounter of 'self' are indeed removed from the T-cell repertoire before their release into the blood circulation. A second essential cornerstone of immunological tolerance, not anticipated by Burnett, has more recently surfaced through the discovery of Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg). Intriguingly, it appears that the expression of an autoreactive T-cell receptor is a shared characteristic of T cells that are subject to clonal deletion as well as of those deviated into the Treg lineage. This is all the more striking as Treg differentiation for the most part branches off from mainstream CD4T cell development during thymocyte maturation in the thymus, that is, it may neither temporally nor spatially be separated from clonal deletion. This raises the question of how an apparently identical stimulus, namely the encounter of 'self' during thymocyte development, can elicit fundamentally different outcomes such as apoptotic cell death on the one hand or differentiation into a highly specialized T-cell lineage on the other hand. Here, we will review the T-cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that have been implicated in intrathymic Treg differentiation and discuss how these parameters may determine whether an autoreactive major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted thymocyte is deviated into the Treg lineage or subject to clonal deletion.
Assuntos
Autoimunidade/imunologia , Deleção Clonal/imunologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/citologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Timo/citologia , Timo/imunologia , Animais , Células Apresentadoras de Antígenos/imunologia , Diferenciação Celular , Citocinas/imunologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Humanos , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/imunologia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/imunologiaRESUMO
Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for preventing autoimmunity. We have demonstrated that depletion of Foxp3(+) Tregs results in the development of a scurfy-like disease, indicating that Foxp3(-) effector T cells are sufficient to induce autoimmunity. It has been postulated that nonfunctional Tregs carrying potentially self-reactive T cell receptors may contribute to scurfy (sf) pathogenesis due to enhanced recognition of self. Those cells, however, could not be identified in sf mutants due to the lack of Foxp3 protein expression. To address this issue, we crossed the natural sf mouse mutant with bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic DEREG (depletion of regulatory T cells) mice. Since DEREG mice express GFP under the control of an additional Foxp3 promoter, those crossings allowed proving the existence of "would-be" Tregs, which are characterized by GFP expression in the absence of functional Foxp3. Sf Tregs lost their in vitro suppressive capacity. This correlated with a substantial reduction of intracellular cAMP levels, whereas surface expression of Treg markers was unaffected. Both GFP(+) and GFP(-) sf cells produced high amounts of Th2-type cytokines, reflected also by enhanced Gata-3 expression, when tested in vitro. Nevertheless, sf Tregs could be induced in vitro, although with lower efficiency than DEREG Tregs. Transfer of GFP(+) sf Tregs, in contrast to GFP(-) sf T cells, into RAG1-deficient animals did not cause the sf phenotype. Taken together, natural and induced Tregs develop in the absence of Foxp3 in sf mice, which lack both suppressive activity and autoreactive potential, but rather display a Th2-biased phenotype.
Assuntos
Citocinas/biossíntese , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/deficiência , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/genética , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Linfócitos T Reguladores/patologia , Células Th2/imunologia , Células Th2/patologia , Animais , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Diferenciação Celular/imunologia , AMP Cíclico/deficiência , AMP Cíclico/genética , Citocinas/deficiência , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/biossíntese , Fator de Transcrição GATA3/biossíntese , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/biossíntese , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/deficiência , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/genética , Linfopenia/genética , Linfopenia/imunologia , Linfopenia/patologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos Mutantes , Camundongos Transgênicos , Linfócitos T Reguladores/transplante , Células Th2/metabolismoRESUMO
Human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the primary host cell receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binding and cell entry. Administration of high concentrations of soluble ACE2 can be utilized as a decoy to block the interaction of the virus with cellular ACE2 receptors and potentially be used as a strategy for treatment or prevention of coronavirus disease 2019. Human ACE2 is heavily glycosylated and its glycans impact on binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and virus infectivity. Here, we describe the production of a recombinant soluble ACE2-fragment crystallizable (Fc) variant in glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana. Our data reveal that the produced dimeric ACE2-Fc variant is glycosylated with mainly complex human-type N-glycans and functional with regard to enzyme activity, affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain, and wild-type virus neutralization.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Humanos , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/genética , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Ligação Proteica , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Nicotiana/genética , Nicotiana/metabolismoRESUMO
There is a critical need for safe and effective drugs for COVID-19. Only remdesivir has received authorization for COVID-19 and has been shown to improve outcomes but not decrease mortality. However, the dose of remdesivir is limited by hepatic and kidney toxicity. ACE2 is the critical cell surface receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Here, we investigated additive effect of combination therapy using remdesivir with recombinant soluble ACE2 (high/low dose) on Vero E6 and kidney organoids, targeting two different modalities of SARS-CoV-2 life cycle: cell entry via its receptor ACE2 and intracellular viral RNA replication. This combination treatment markedly improved their therapeutic windows against SARS-CoV-2 in both models. By using single amino-acid resolution screening in haploid ES cells, we report a singular critical pathway required for remdesivir toxicity, namely, Adenylate Kinase 2. The data provided here demonstrate that combining two therapeutic modalities with different targets, common strategy in HIV treatment, exhibit strong additive effects at sub-toxic concentrations. Our data lay the groundwork for the study of combinatorial regimens in future COVID-19 clinical trials.
Assuntos
Monofosfato de Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Alanina/análogos & derivados , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/farmacologia , Antivirais/farmacologia , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacos , Monofosfato de Adenosina/farmacologia , Alanina/farmacologia , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Chlorocebus aethiops , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Células Vero , Internalização do Vírus/efeitos dos fármacos , Replicação Viral/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Infection and viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 crucially depends on the binding of its Spike protein to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) presented on host cells. Glycosylation of both proteins is critical for this interaction. Recombinant soluble human ACE2 can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and is currently undergoing clinical tests for the treatment of COVID-19. We used 3D structural models and molecular dynamics simulations to define the ACE2 N-glycans that critically influence Spike-ACE2 complex formation. Engineering of ACE2 N-glycosylation by site-directed mutagenesis or glycosidase treatment resulted in enhanced binding affinities and improved virus neutralization without notable deleterious effects on the structural stability and catalytic activity of the protein. Importantly, simultaneous removal of all accessible N-glycans from recombinant soluble human ACE2 yields a superior SARS-CoV-2 decoy receptor with promise as effective treatment for COVID-19 patients.
Assuntos
Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Polissacarídeos/metabolismo , Receptores Virais/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/química , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/genética , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , COVID-19/virologia , Glicosilação , Humanos , Polissacarídeos/química , Ligação Proteica , Engenharia de Proteínas , Receptores Virais/química , Receptores Virais/genética , SARS-CoV-2/genética , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/química , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/genética , Internalização do VírusRESUMO
Jagunal homolog 1 (JAGN1) has been identified as a critical regulator of neutrophil biology in mutant mice and rare-disease patients carrying JAGN1 mutations. Here, we report that Jagn1 deficiency results in alterations in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of antibody-producing cells as well as decreased antibody production and secretion. Consequently, mice lacking Jagn1 in B cells exhibit reduced serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels at steady state and fail to mount an efficient humoral immune response upon immunization with specific antigens or when challenged with viral infections. We also demonstrate that Jagn1 deficiency in B cells results in aberrant IgG N-glycosylation leading to enhanced Fc receptor binding. Jagn1 deficiency in particular affects fucosylation of IgG subtypes in mice as well as rare-disease patients with loss-of-function mutations in JAGN1. Moreover, we show that ER stress affects antibody glycosylation. Our data uncover a novel and key role for JAGN1 and ER stress in antibody glycosylation and humoral immunity in mice and humans.
Assuntos
Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Proteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Animais , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático/genética , Glicosilação , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/genética , Mutação com Perda de Função , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Camundongos Knockout , Receptores Fc/genética , Receptores Fc/imunologiaRESUMO
The recent emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants has caused considerable concern due to reduced vaccine efficacy and escape from neutralizing antibody therapeutics. It is therefore paramount to develop therapeutic strategies that inhibit all known and future SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here we report that all SARS-CoV-2 variants analyzed, including variants of concern (VOC) Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, exhibit enhanced binding affinity to clinical grade and phase 2 tested recombinant human soluble ACE2 (APN01). Importantly, soluble ACE2 neutralized infection of VeroE6 cells and human lung epithelial cells by multiple VOC strains with markedly enhanced potency when compared to reference SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Effective inhibition of infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants was validated and confirmed in two independent laboratories. These data show that SARS-CoV-2 variants that have emerged around the world, including current VOC and several variants of interest, can be inhibited by soluble ACE2, providing proof of principle of a pan-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic.
RESUMO
To develop a universal strategy to block SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry and infection represents a central aim for effective COVID-19 therapy. The growing impact of emerging variants of concern increases the urgency for development of effective interventions. Since ACE2 is the critical SARS-CoV-2 receptor and all tested variants bind to ACE2, some even at much increased affinity (see accompanying paper), we hypothesized that aerosol administration of clinical grade soluble human recombinant ACE2 (APN01) will neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in the airways, limit spread of infection in the lung and mitigate lung damage caused by deregulated signaling in the renin-angiotensin (RAS) and Kinin pathways. Here we show that intranasal administration of APN01 in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection dramatically reduced weight loss and prevented animal death. As a prerequisite to a clinical trial, we evaluated both virus binding activity and enzymatic activity for cleavage of Ang II following aerosolization. We report successful aerosolization for APN01, retaining viral binding as well as catalytic RAS activity. Dose range-finding and IND-enabling repeat-dose aerosol toxicology testing were conducted in dogs. Twice daily aerosol administration for two weeks at the maximum feasible concentration revealed no notable toxicities. Based on these results, a Phase I clinical trial in healthy volunteers can now be initiated, with subsequent Phase II testing in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This strategy could be used to develop a viable and rapidly actionable therapy to prevent and treat COVID-19, against all current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
RESUMO
Like other members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of proteins, STAT6 has a dual role as signaling molecule and transcription factor. STAT6 is tightly connected to IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, and plays a key role in TH2 polarization of the immune system, as studies on knockout mice have illustrated impressively. The last 5 years have yielded many new insights into various aspects of STAT6 signaling. While the canonical view of STAT6 activation and biology remains largely unaltered, significant progress has been made in the identification of factors involved in STAT6 activity and STAT6-mediated gene regulation. About 35 different STAT6 target genes have been identified to date, many of which are involved in TH2-associated processes. This review summarizes the existing data on STAT6. Older landmark studies are discussed, as well as surprising recent additions, like hints on inactive STAT6 dimers and the discovery of novel STAT6 isoforms. There is a particular focus on molecular aspects such as modifications of STAT6 and regulation of STAT6-dependent genes, since studies on these aspects have been particularly fruitful during the last few years.