Effect of SARS-CoV-2 S protein on the proteolytic cleavage of the epithelial Na+ channel ENaC.
PLoS One
; 19(4): e0302436, 2024.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38662786
ABSTRACT
Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Water accumulation in the lungs is thought to occur as consequence of an exaggerated inflammatory response. A possible mechanism could involve decreased activity of the epithelial Na+ channel, ENaC, expressed in type II pneumocytes. Reduced transepithelial Na+ reabsorption could contribute to lung edema due to reduced alveolar fluid clearance. This hypothesis is based on the observation of the presence of a novel furin cleavage site in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 that is identical to the furin cleavage site present in the alpha subunit of ENaC. Proteolytic processing of αENaC by furin-like proteases is essential for channel activity. Thus, competition between S protein and αENaC for furin-mediated cleavage in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells may negatively affect channel activity. Here we present experimental evidence showing that coexpression of the S protein with ENaC in a cellular model reduces channel activity. In addition, we show that bidirectional competition for cleavage by furin-like proteases occurs between ãENaC and S protein. In transgenic mice sensitive to lethal SARS-CoV-2, however, a significant decrease in gamma ENaC expression was not observed by immunostaining of lungs infected as shown by SARS-CoV2 nucleoprotein staining.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Camundongos Transgênicos
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Furina
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Canais Epiteliais de Sódio
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Proteólise
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Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus
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SARS-CoV-2
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COVID-19
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
México