Murine alveolar macrophages rapidly accumulate intranasally administered SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein leading to neutrophil recruitment and damage.

The trimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein mediates viral attachment facilitating cell entry. Most COVID-19 vaccines direct mammalian cells to express the Spike protein or deliver it directly via inoculation to engender a protective immune response. The trafficking and cellular tropism of the Spike protein in vivo and its impact on immune cells remains incompletely elucidated. In this study, we inoculated mice intranasally, intravenously, and subcutaneously with fluorescently labeled recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Using flow cytometry and imaging techniques, we analyzed its localization, immune cell tropism, and acute functional impact. Intranasal administration led to rapid lung alveolar macrophage uptake, pulmonary vascular leakage, and neutrophil recruitment and damage. When injected near the inguinal lymph node medullary, but not subcapsular macrophages, captured the protein, while scrotal injection recruited and fragmented neutrophils. Widespread endothelial and liver Kupffer cell uptake followed intravenous administration. Human peripheral blood cells B cells, neutrophils, monocytes, and myeloid dendritic cells all efficiently bound Spike protein. Exposure to the Spike protein enhanced neutrophil NETosis and augmented human macrophage TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL-6 production. Human and murine immune cells employed C-type lectin receptors and Siglecs to help capture the Spike protein. This study highlights the potential toxicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein for mammalian cells and illustrates the central role for alveolar macrophage in pathogenic protein uptake.

Murine Alveolar Macrophages Rapidly Accumulate Intranasally Administered SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein leading to Neutrophil Recruitment and Damage.

The trimeric SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein mediates viral attachment facilitating cell entry. Most COVID-19 vaccines direct mammalian cells to express the Spike protein or deliver it directly via inoculation to engender a protective immune response. The trafficking and cellular tropism of the Spike protein in vivo and its impact on immune cells remains incompletely elucidated. In this study we inoculated mice intranasally, intravenously, and subcutaneously with fluorescently labeled recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Using flow cytometry and imaging techniques we analyzed its localization, immune cell tropism, and acute functional impact. Intranasal administration led to rapid lung alveolar macrophage uptake, pulmonary vascular leakage, and neutrophil recruitment and damage. When injected near the inguinal lymph node medullary, but not subcapsular macrophages, captured the protein, while scrotal injection recruited and fragmented neutrophils. Wide-spread endothelial and liver Kupffer cell uptake followed intravenous administration. Human peripheral blood cells B cells, neutrophils, monocytes, and myeloid dendritic cells all efficiently bound Spike protein. Exposure to the Spike protein enhanced neutrophil NETosis and augmented human macrophage TNF-α and IL-6 production. Human and murine immune cells employed C-type lectin receptors and Siglecs to help capture the Spike protein. This study highlights the potential toxicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein for mammalian cells and illustrates the central role for alveolar macrophage in pathogenic protein uptake.

Neutralizing and Targeting Properties of a New Set of α4ß7-Specific Antibodies Are Influenced by Their Isotype.

The homing of lymphocytes to the mucosa is mainly controlled by α4ß7 integrin, and it is amplified during gut chronic inflammation, as occurs with HIV and/or inflammatory bowel diseases. We designed and applied an improved immunization strategy based on an innovative selection process to isolate new α4ß7 lymphocyte-specific monoclonal antibodies that are able to prevent their migration into inflamed gut tissues and/or to counteract HIV infection in vitro. First, 5 monoclonal antibodies (1 IgA, 1 IgM, and 4 IgGs) were selected based on their capacity to recognize α4 or ß7 homodimers and α4ß7 heterodimers in transfected human cells. Their ability to block gp120/α4ß7 or MAdCAM-1/α4ß7 interactions was then measured in vitro with human T and B lymphocytes. In vitro, the anti-α4ß7 IgA isotype was found to have the highest affinity for the α4ß7 heterodimer, and it significantly reduced HIV replication in retinoic acid-treated α4ß7 CD4 human T cells. This α4ß7-specific IgA also displayed a high avidity for human and mouse α4ß7 lymphocytes in both mouse and human inflammatory colitis tissues. These new antibodies, and in particular those with mucosa-targeting isotypes such as IgA, could therefore be potential novel therapeutic tools for treating HIV and inflammatory bowel disease.

Beta-turn Phe in HIV-1 Env binding site of CD4 and CD4 mimetic miniprotein enhances Env binding affinity but is not required for activation of co-receptor/17b site.

HIV-1 enters a host cell after an initial interaction between viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 and cell surface receptor CD4, followed by a second interaction between gp120 and a cell surface chemokine receptor. CD4 residue Phe43 makes a significant contribution to the high-affinity interaction between CD4 and env. We and others have used scorpion toxin scaffolds to display and examine CD4 epitopes used for gp120 recognition. These peptides, which have a beta-turn Phe that acts as a Phe43 surrogate, compete with CD4 for gp120 binding and enhance the binding of gp120 to 17b, an antibody that binds near the co-receptor-binding site. In the current study, a scyllatoxin-scaffolded peptide, identified via phage epitope randomization and lacking a beta-turn Phe (indeed, containing no aromatic residues), was shown to behave in a distinctly CD4-like manner. This peptide, denoted [20EGLV23]ST, not only competed with CD4 for gp120 binding, but also enhanced the binding of gp120 to 17b. Quantitatively, an [20EGLV23]ST-gp120 complex exhibited the same 17b binding on-rate as a complex of gp120 with [20AGSF23]ST, a scyllatoxin-based CD4 mimetic peptide containing a beta-turn Phe. In view of this result, we examined the role of Phe43 in CD4 itself by comparing F43V D1D2 sCD4 versus D1D2 sCD4. Like the peptides, a close similarity was observed for both Phe43 and Phe43-less D1D2 sCD4s in enhancing gp120 binding to 17b. Further, when examined for their ability to enhance binding of gp120 to CCR5+ cells, [20EGLV23]ST and [20AGSF23]ST were found to have the same efficacy, after correcting for the difference in their gp120 affinities. These results show that, although Phe43 is important in maintaining high affinity in gp120 ligands, the aromatic residue is not necessary for triggering the conformational isomerization in gp120 that results in formation or exposure of the binding sites for the 17b antibody and the CCR5 receptor.