The respective roles of TMPRSS2 and cathepsins for SARS-CoV-2 infection in human respiratory organoids.

ABSTRACT: A critical aspect of the mechanism of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is the protease-mediated activation of the viral spike (S) protein. The type II transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 is crucial for SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung epithelial Calu-3 cells and murine airways. However, the importance of TMPRSS2 needs to be re-examined because the ability to utilize TMPRSS2 is significantly reduced in the Omicron variants that spread globally. For this purpose, replication profiles of SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed in human respiratory organoids. All tested viruses, including Omicron variants, replicated efficiently in these organoids. Notably, all SARS-CoV-2 strains retained replication ability in TMPRSS2-gene knockout (KO) respiratory organoids, suggesting t

SUBMITTER: Kakizaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11784140 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature