PLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defense factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE233548 | GEO | 2023/07/12
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:PLSCR1 is a cell-autonomous defense factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection
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Project description:SARS-CoV-2, the agent causing COVID-19, invades epithelial cells, including those of the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosa, using angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) as a receptor. Subsequent inflammation can promote rapid virus clearance. However, severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by an inefficient immune response that fails to clear infection. Using primary epithelial organoids from the colon, we explored how IFN-γ, a central antiviral mediator elevated in COVID-19, affects differentiation, ACE2 expression, and infectivity with SARS-CoV-2. ACE2 is mainly expressed by surface enterocytes of mouse and human colon. Inducing enterocyte differentiation in organoid culture resulted in increased ACE2 production. IFN-γ treatment promoted differentiation into mature KRT20+ enterocytes expressing high levels of ACE2. Similarly, IFN-γ promoted expression of ACE2 in human primary lung cells. IFN-y driven differentiation increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and electron microscopy revealed that the virus can efficiently complete its full life cycle in IFN-γ-treated enterocytes. Furthermore, infection-induced epithelial interferon signaling promoted enterocyte maturation and enhanced ACE2 expression. We reveal a mechanism by which IFN-y-driven inflammatory responses may increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and promote its replication.
2021-01-01 | GSE156544 | GEO
Project description:Phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) is an antiviral interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) that has several known anti-influenza functions. However, the mechanisms in relation to its expression compartment and enzymatic activity have not been completely explored. Moreover, only limited animal models have been studied to delineate its role at the tissue level in influenza infections. Our results showed that Plscr1 expression was highly induced by influenza A virus (IAV) infection in vivo and in airway epithelial cells treated with IFN-λ. We found that infected Plscr1-/- mice exhibited exacerbated body weight loss, decreased survival rates, heightened viral replication, and increased lung damage. Interestingly, transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that Plscr1 was required for the expression of type 3 interferon receptor (Ifn-λr1) and a large subset of ISGs upon IAV infection. The impaired expression of Ifn-λr1 and downstream ISGs may be responsible for delayed viral clearance and worse lung inflammation in Plscr1-/- mice. PLSCR1 acts as a transcriptional activator of IFN-λR1 by directly binding to its promotor after IAV infection. In addition, PLSCR1 interacted with IFN-λR1 on the cell surface of pulmonary epithelial cells following IAV infection, suggesting it also modulated IFN-λ signaling via protein-protein interactions. The lipid scramblase activity of PLSCR1 was found to be dispensable for its anti-flu activity. Finally, single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that Plscr1 expression was significantly upregulated in ciliated airway epithelial cells in mice following IAV infection. Consistently, Plscr1floxStopFoxj1-Cre+ mice with ciliated epithelial cell-specific Plscr1 overexpression showed reduced susceptibility to IAV infection, less inflammation and enhanced Ifn-λr1 expression, suggesting that Plscr1 primarily regulates type 3 IFN signaling as a cell intrinsic defense factor against IAV in ciliated airway epithelial cells. Our research will elucidate virus-host interactions and pave the way for the development of novel anti-influenza drugs that target human elements like PLSCR1, thereby mitigating the emergence of drug-resistant IAV strains.
2025-11-14 | GSE307868 | GEO
Project description:SARS-CoV-2 RNA generally becomes undetectable in upper airways after a few days or weeks post-infection. It is unclear however if the virus persists in other parts of the body and which mechanism(s) regulate SARS-CoV-2 persistence. We addressed this question in the macaque model. Replication-competent virus was detected in bronchioalveolar lavages (BAL) macrophages beyond 6 months post-infection. SARS-CoV-2 propagated in BAL macrophages from cell-to-cell. IFN-γ inhibited this replication. IFN-γ production within BAL lymphocytes was strongest in NKG2r+CD8+ T and NKG2Alo NK cells and was further increased in NKG2Alo NK cells after Spike protein stimulation. However, IFN-γ production was impaired in NK cells from animals with persisting virus. IFN-γ also enhanced MHC-E expression on BAL macrophages, possibly inhibiting natural killer cell mediated killing. Animals with less persisting virus mounted adaptive NK cells escaping this MHC-E dependent inhibition. Our findings reveal an interplay between NK cells and macrophages mediated by IFN-γ, regulating SARS-CoV-2 persistence in macrophages. Gene expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) NK cells in SARS-CoV-2 convalescent monkeys.
2023-09-25 | GSE243732 | GEO
Project description:SARS-CoV-2 RNA generally becomes undetectable in upper airways after a few days or weeks post-infection. It is unclear however if the virus persists in other parts of the body and which mechanism(s) regulate SARS-CoV-2 persistence. We addressed this question in the macaque model. Replication-competent virus was detected in bronchioalveolar lavages (BAL) macrophages beyond 6 months post-infection. SARS-CoV-2 propagated in BAL macrophages from cell-to-cell. IFN-γ inhibited this replication. IFN-γ production within BAL lymphocytes was strongest in NKG2r+CD8+ T and NKG2Alo NK cells and was further increased in NKG2Alo NK cells after Spike protein stimulation. However, IFN-γ production was impaired in NK cells from animals with persisting virus. IFN-γ also enhanced MHC-E expression on BAL macrophages, possibly inhibiting natural killer cell mediated killing. Animals with less persisting virus mounted adaptive NK cells escaping this MHC-E dependent inhibition. Our findings reveal an interplay between NK cells and macrophages mediated by IFN-γ, regulating SARS-CoV-2 persistence in macrophages. Gene expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) NK cells in SARS-CoV-2 convalescent monkeys.
2023-09-25 | GSE243733 | GEO
Project description:SARS-CoV-2 RNA generally becomes undetectable in upper airways after a few days or weeks post-infection. It is unclear however if the virus persists in other parts of the body and which mechanism(s) regulate SARS-CoV-2 persistence. We addressed this question in the macaque model. Replication-competent virus was detected in bronchioalveolar lavages (BAL) macrophages beyond 6 months post-infection. SARS-CoV-2 propagated in BAL macrophages from cell-to-cell. IFN-γ inhibited this replication. IFN-γ production within BAL lymphocytes was strongest in NKG2r+CD8+ T and NKG2Alo NK cells and was further increased in NKG2Alo NK cells after Spike protein stimulation. However, IFN-γ production was impaired in NK cells from animals with persisting virus. IFN-γ also enhanced MHC-E expression on BAL macrophages, possibly inhibiting natural killer cell mediated killing. Animals with less persisting virus mounted adaptive NK cells escaping this MHC-E dependent inhibition. Our findings reveal an interplay between NK cells and macrophages mediated by IFN-γ, regulating SARS-CoV-2 persistence in macrophages. Gene expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) CD64+ Macrophages isolated from 6 healthy donors, 5 randomly chosen wuhan- and 10 omicron infected cynomolgus macaques at least 221 days post-infection, cultured for 8h and profiled with the NanoString nCounter System.
2023-09-25 | GSE243731 | GEO
Project description:The identification of host factors with antiviral potential is important for developing effective prevention and therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, by using immortalized cell lines, intestinal organoids, ex vivo intestinal tissues and humanized ACE2 mouse model as proof-of-principle systems, we have identified lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) as a crucial host defense factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the small intestine. Loss of endogenous LSR enhances ACE2-dependent infection by SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein-pseudotyped virus and authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus, and exogenous administration of LSR protects against viral infection. Mechanistically, LSR interacts with ACE2 both in cis and in trans, preventing its binding to S protein, and thus inhibiting viral entry and S protein-mediated cell-cell fusion. Finally, a small LSR-derived peptide blocks S protein binding to the ACE2 receptor in vitro. These results identify both a previously unknown function for LSR in antiviral host defense against SARS-CoV-2, with potential implications for peptide-based pan-variant therapeutic interventions.
| S-SCDT-10_1038-S44318-024-00281-4 | biostudies-other
Project description:Epithelial response to IFN-γ promotes SARS-CoV-2 infection
| PRJNA658319 | ENA
Project description:Waning immunity and the emergence of immune evasive SARS-CoV-2 variants jeopardize vaccine efficacy and contribute to breakthrough infections. The immune response that promotes vaccine-induced protection against SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection remains poorly understood. To model breakthrough infections, we vaccinated mice with a low dose vaccine formulation containing MF59-like adjuvant with prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and challenged with immune evasive B.1.351 variant. Here, we show that eosinophils are required for protection against SARS-CoV-2 during a vaccine breakthrough infection. We found that vaccine breakthrough infection leads to a 2-log reduction in lung viral burden with restricted replication within the large airways as compared to naïve infected mice. Despite reduced antiviral gene expression, infected vaccinated mice show increased immune cell infiltration, characterized by monocytes, interstitial macrophages, and eosinophils, but with reduced activation markers into the lung parenchyma as compared to infected naïve mice. Single cell RNA-seq revealed that viral RNA was highly associated with eosinophils that corresponded to an IFN-γ biased phenotype and expression of antiviral genes including Cystatin B, an inhibitor of cysteine protease involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry via the endosome. Monocytes from infected vaccinated, but not naïve, mice showed high expression for eosinophil chemoattractant Ccl24 (eotaxin-2). Antibody-mediated depletion of eosinophils prior to infection of vaccinated mice resulted in increased virus replication and viral antigen staining deep in the lungs as compared to isotype control infected vaccinated mice. These results demonstrate the importance of eosinophils in vaccine-mediated protection and highlight the need for durable antibody responses that protect against lung infection and inflammation.
2025-08-08 | GSE274118 | GEO
Project description:Understanding protective immunity to COVID-19 facilitates preparedness for future pandemics and combats new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerging in the human population. Neutralizing antibodies have been widely studied; however, on the basis of large-scale exome sequencing of protected versus severely ill patients with COVID-19, local cell-autonomous defence is also crucial1-4. Here we identify phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) as a potent cell-autonomous restriction factor against live SARS-CoV-2 infection in parallel genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens of human lung epithelia and hepatocytes before and after stimulation with interferon-γ (IFNγ). IFNγ-induced PLSCR1 not only restricted SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020, but was also effective against the Delta B.1.617.2 and Omicron BA.1 lineages. Its robust activity extended to other highly pathogenic coronaviruses, was functionally conserved in bats and mice, and interfered with the uptake of SARS-CoV-2 in both the endocytic and the TMPRSS2-dependent fusion routes. Whole-cell 4Pi single-molecule switching nanoscopy together with bipartite nano-reporter assays found that PLSCR1 directly targeted SARS-CoV-2-containing vesicles to prevent spike-mediated fusion and viral escape. A PLSCR1 C-terminal β-barrel domain-but not lipid scramblase activity-was essential for this fusogenic blockade. Our mechanistic studies, together with reports that COVID-associated PLSCR1 mutations are found in some susceptible people3,4, identify an anti-coronavirus protein that interferes at a late entry step before viral RNA is released into the host-cell cytosol.
| S-EPMC10371867 | biostudies-literature