SARS-CoV-2 infection alters mitochondrial and cytoskeletal function in human respiratory epithelial cells mediated by expression of spike protein.

ABSTRACT: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, SCV2), which has resulted in higher morbidity and mortality rate than other respiratory viral infections, such as Influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of SCV2-host infection vs IAV is vital in exploring antiviral drug targets against SCV2. We assessed differential gene expression in human nasal cells upon SCV2 or IAV infection using RNA sequencing. Compared to IAV, we observed alterations in both metabolic and cytoskeletal pathways suggestive of epithelial remodeling in the SCV2-infected cells, reminiscent of pathways activated as a response to chronic injury. We found that spike protein interaction with the epithelium was sufficient to instigat

SUBMITTER: Yeung-Luk BH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10470579 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature