SARS-CoV-2 spike protein enhances MAP4K3/GLK-induced ACE2 stability in COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: ACE2 on epithelial cells is the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor. Single-cell RNA-sequencing data derived from two COVID-19 cohorts revealed that MAP4K3/GLK-positive epithelial cells were increased in patients. SARS-CoV-2-induced GLK overexpression in epithelial cells was correlated with COVID-19 severity and vesicle secretion. GLK overexpression induced the epithelial cell-derived exosomes containing ACE2; the GLK-induced exosomes transported ACE2 proteins to recipient cells, facilitating pseudovirus infection. Consistently, ACE2 proteins were increased in the serum exosomes from another COVID-19 cohort. Remarkably, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-stimulated GLK, and GLK stabilized ACE2 in epithelial cells. Mechanistically, GLK phosphorylated ACE2 at two serine residues (Ser776, Ser783), leading to the

SUBMITTER: Chuang HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9353388 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature