Comparative transcriptomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infected cell model systems reveals differential innate immune responses.

ABSTRACT: The transcriptome of SARS-CoV-2-infected cells that reflects the interplay between host and virus has provided valuable insights into mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease progression. In this study, we show that SARS-CoV-2 can establish a robust infection in HEK293T cells that overexpress human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) without triggering significant host immune response. Instead, endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response-related pathways are predominantly activated. By comparing our data with published transcriptome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in other cell lines, we found that the expression level of hACE2 directly correlates with the viral load in infected cells but not with the scale of immune responses. Only cells that express high

SUBMITTER: Sun G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8387424 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature