Project description:It is urgent to develop disease models to dissect mechanisms regulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here, we derive airway organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-AOs). The hPSC-AOs, particularly ciliated-like cells, are permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using this platform, we perform a high content screen and identify GW6471, which blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection. GW6471 can also block infection of the B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis suggests that GW6471 blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection at least in part by inhibiting hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1α), which is further validated by chemical inhibitor and genetic perturbation targeting HIF1α. Metabolic profiling identifies decreased rates of glycolysis upon GW6471 treatment, consistent with transcriptome profiling. Finally, xanthohumol, 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid, and ND-646, three compounds that suppress fatty acid biosynthesis, also block SARS-CoV-2 infection. Together, a high content screen coupled with transcriptome and metabolic profiling reveals a key role of the HIF1α-glycolysis axis in mediating SARS-CoV-2 infection of human airway epithelium.
Project description:SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing recently pandemic, primarily infects the respiratory tract. There is an urgent need to develop platforms using disease relevant human cells to dissect the molecular mechanism regulating SARS-CoV-2 infection and perform drug screen. Here, we derived airway organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-AO). The hPSC-AOs, particularly ciliated cells, express ACE2 and are permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using hPSC-AOs, we performed a high content screen and identified GW6471, which blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection. RNA-seq analysis suggested that GW6471 blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection by inhibiting HIF1α, which is further validated by chemotin, another HIF1α inhibitor. Furthermore, metabolic profiling identified that the downregulation of glycolysis upon GW6471 treatment, which is further validated by RNA-seq. Finally, xanthohumol, a prenylated flavonoid suppressing fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis, blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection. Together, we applied the high content screen, RNA-seq and metabolic profiling to define the key role of HIF1α-glycolysis axis in SARS-CoV-2 infection, which provides a target pathway for anti-viral drug development.
Project description:SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing recently pandemic, primarily infects the respiratory tract. There is an urgent need to develop platforms using disease relevant human cells to dissect the molecular mechanism regulating SARS-CoV-2 infection and perform drug screen. Here, we derived airway organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-AO). The hPSC-AOs, particularly ciliated cells, express ACE2 and are permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using hPSC-AOs, we performed a high content screen and identified GW6471, which blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection. RNA-seq analysis suggested that GW6471 blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection by inhibiting HIF1α, which is further validated by chemotin, another HIF1α inhibitor. Furthermore, metabolic profiling identified that the downregulation of glycolysis upon GW6471 treatment, which is further validated by RNA-seq. Finally, xanthohumol, a prenylated flavonoid suppressing fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis, blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection. Together, we applied the high content screen, RNA-seq and metabolic profiling to define the key role of HIF1α-glycolysis axis in SARS-CoV-2 infection, which provides a target pathway for anti-viral drug development.
Project description:The COVID-19 outbreak poses a serious threat to global public health. Effective countermeasures and approved therapeutics are desperately needed. In this study, we screened a small molecule library containing the NCI-DTP compounds to identify molecules that can prevent SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. By applying a luciferase assay-based screening using a pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2-mediated cell entry assay, we identified a small molecule compound Q34 that can efficiently block cellular entry of the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 into human ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells, and inhibit the infection of the authentic SARS-CoV-2 in human ACE2-expressing HEK293T cells, human iPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes, and human lung Calu-3 cells. Importantly, the safety profile of the compound is favorable. There is no obvious toxicity observed in uninfected cells treated with the compound. Thus, this compound holds great potential as both prophylactics and therapeutics for COVID-19 and future pandemics by blocking the entry of SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses into human cells.
Project description:Although many host factors important for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been reported, the mechanisms by which the virus interacts with host cells remain elusive. Here, we identified tripartite motif containing (TRIM) 28, TRIM33, euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase (EHMT) 1, and EHMT2 as proviral factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection by CRISPR-Cas9 screening. Our result suggested that TRIM28 may play a role in viral particle formation and that TRIM33, EHMT1, and EHMT2 may be involved in viral transcription and replication. UNC0642, a compound that specifically inhibits the methyltransferase activity of EHMT1/2, strikingly suppressed SARS-CoV-2 growth in cultured cells and reduced disease severity in a hamster infection model. This study suggests that EHMT1/2 may be a therapeutic target for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Project description:To explore the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection in different time before operation and postoperative main complications (mortality, main pulmonary and cardiovascular complications) 30 days after operation; To determine the best timing of surgery after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Project description:Dysregulated immune responses contribute to the excessive and uncontrolled inflammation observed in severe COVID-19. However, how immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is induced and regulated remains unclear. Here we uncover a role of the complement system in the induction of innate and adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Complement rapidly opsonizes SARS-CoV-2 particles via the lectin pathway. Complement-opsonized SARS-CoV-2 efficiently induces type-I interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses via activation of dendritic cells, which are inhibited by antibodies against the complement receptors (CR) 3 and 4. Serum from COVID-19 patients, or monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, attenuate innate and adaptive immunity induced by complement-opsonized SARS-CoV-2. Blocking of CD32, the FcγRII antibody receptor of dendritic cells, restores complement-induced immunity. These results suggest that opsonization of SARS-CoV-2 by complement is involved in the induction of innate and adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in the acute phase of infection. Subsequent antibody responses limit inflammation and restore immune homeostasis. These findings suggest that dysregulation of the complement system and FcγRII signaling may contribute to severe COVID-19.