SARS-CoV-2 spike protein accelerates systemic sclerosis by increasing inflammatory cytokines, Th17 cells, and fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induces a dysfunctional immune response, inflammation, autoantibody production, and coagulopathy, which are symptoms that bear resemblance to those of autoimmune diseases, including systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods

While there is a single case report suggesting an association between COVID-19 and SSc, the effects of COVID-19 on SSc are not yet fully understood. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells were transfected with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein gene, in the presence of TGF-β. The expression levels of fibrosis-related proteins were measured via Western blotting. A bleomycin (BLM)-induced SSc mouse model was employed, wherein mice were injected with the gene encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the ACE2 receptor. The

SUBMITTER: Jeong HY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10740237 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature