Airway Basal Stem Cells in COVID-19 Exhibit a Proinflammatory Signature and Impaired Mucocililary Differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Airway basal stem cells (BSCs) play a critical role in epithelial regeneration. Whether coronavirus disease (COVID-19) affects BSC function is unknown. Here, we derived BSC lines from patients with COVID-19 using tracheal aspirates (TAs) to circumvent the biosafety concerns of live-cell derivation. We show that BSCs derived from the TAs of control patients are bona fide bronchial BSCs. TA BSCs from patients with COVID-19 tested negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA; however, these so-termed COVID-19-exposed BSCs in vitro resemble a predominant BSC subpopulation uniquely present in patients with COVID-19, manifested by a proinflammatory gene signature and STAT3 hyperactivation. Furthermore, the sustained STAT3 hyperactivation drives goblet cell diffe

SUBMITTER: Bankoti K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10768838 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature