Pulmonary infection by SARS-CoV-2 induces senescence accompanied by an inflammatory phenotype in severe COVID-19: possible implications for viral mutagenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection of the respiratory system can progress to a multisystemic disease with aberrant inflammatory response. Cellular senescence promotes chronic inflammation, named senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). We investigated whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with cellular senescence and SASP.

Methods

Autopsy lung tissue samples from 11 COVID-19 patients and 43 age-matched non-COVID-19 controls with similar comorbidities were analysed by immunohistochemistry for SARS-CoV-2, markers of senescence and key SASP cytokines. Virally induced senescence was functionally recapitulated in vitro, by infecting epithelial Vero-E6 cells and a three-dimensional alveosphere syste

SUBMITTER: Evangelou K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8796696 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature