Project description:SARS-CoV-2 has caused the largest known coronavirus pandemic and is believed to have emerged from insectivorous bats. Little is known about the evolution of these viruses in their reservoir bat species. In this study, we investigated SARS-CoV-2-host interaction using human and bat cells. Bat cells mount a robust and early antiviral response but elicit a dampened pro-inflammatory response upon SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to human cells. Furthermore, an inactivating R685P mutation within the furin cleavage site (FCS) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was naturally selected for in infected bat cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that insectivorous bat cells have evolved a differential antiviral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection, likely to mitigate immunopathology that is observed in humans. Our study sheds light on the evolution of sarbecoviruses in bats and extends molecular evidence to data from field studies that have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2-related viruses in wild-caught bats lack an intact FCS.
Project description:Bats are tolerant to highly pathogenic viruses such as Marburg, Ebola, and Nipah, suggesting the presence of a unique immune tolerance toward viral infection. Here, we compared SARS-CoV-2 infection of human and bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) pluripotent cells and fibroblasts. Since bat cells do not express an ACE2 receptor that allows virus infection, we transduced the human ACE2 receptor into the cells and found that transduced cells can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Compared to human ESCs-hA, infected bat iPSCs-hA produced about a 100-fold lower level of infectious virus and displayed lower toxicity. In contrast, bat fibroblasts (BEF-hA) produced no infectious virus while being infectable and synthesizing viral RNA and proteins, suggesting abortive infection. Indeed, electron microscopy failed to detect virus-like particles in infected bat fibroblasts in contrast to bat iPSCs or human cells, consistent with the latter producing infectious viruses. This suggests that bat somatic but not pluripotent cells have an effective mechanism to control virus replication. Consistent with previous results by others, we find that bat cells have a constitutively activated innate immune system, which might limit SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to human cells.
Project description:To further understand different gene expression of miR-22 knockout mouse BAT and normal BAT, we have employed BAT samples microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify different genes with miR-22 knockout mouse BAT and normal BAT.comparision with normal BAT,significantly upgene is 522 and downgene is 720 in knockout group.
Project description:Bats are natural reservoirs for a large range of emerging viruses that cause lethal diseases in humans and domestic animals, but remain asymptomatic in bats. Understanding the host-pathogen interactions relies on the availability of relevant models including susceptible cells, derived from viral target tissues. To obtain bat cell types pertinent for the study of viral infection, we applied somatic reprogramming approach to Pteropus primary cells as initial substrates. Using the novel combination of three transcription factors: ESRRB, CDX2 and c-MYC, we generated reprogrammed cells exhibiting stem cells features.
Project description:BAT activation for thermogenesis is a physiological mechanism that maintains body temperature during cold exposure. However, how BAT is dynamically activated and preserve its sustained activation in cold is not completely understood. In this study, we identified soluble ST2 (sST2) mediates a WAT-to-BAT endocrine mechanism, which is required for constant BAT activation during cold exposure. Specific depletion of sST2 isoform blocks the alternative thermogenesis upon BAT denervation and leads to cold sensitive in a prolong cold exposure. Mechanistically, sST2 is induced and secreted from eWAT by the Adrb1/2 signaling driven Creb1 activation. The secreted sST2 directly binds to the Adrb3 receptor in BAT and in synergy with NE to induce BAT thermogenesis, which is independent of IL33. Additionally, supplement of sST2 induces beige fat formation in mice and humans. Therefore, our study demonstrated eWAT derived adipokine sST2 functions on BAT activation as a novel mechanism in sustained activation of thermogenesis of BAT in cold exposure. More importantly, sST2 may serve as an emerging therapeutic approach in combine with b3 receptor agonist for obesity treatment.