biostudies-literatureUnknownOtter CJThe nasal epithelium is the initial entry portal and primary barrier to infection by all human coronaviruses (HCoVs). We utilize primary nasal epithelial cells grown at air-liquid interface, which recapitulate the heterogeneous cellular population as well as mucociliary clearance functions of the <i>in vivo</i> nasal epithelium, to compare lethal (SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV) and seasonal (HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E) HCoVs. All four HCoVs replicate productively in nasal cultures but diverge significantly in terms of cytotoxicity induced following infection, as the seasonal HCoVs as well as SARS-CoV-2 cause cellular cytotoxicity as well as epithelial barrier disruption, while MERS-CoV does not. Treatment of nasal cultures with type 2 cytokine IL-13 to mimic asthmatic airways differentially impactsbioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2022.10.17.512617https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9603826biostudies-literatureInfection of primary nasal epithelial cells differentiates among lethal and seasonal human coronaviruses.PMC9603826Cohen NAFausto AWeiss SRTan LHOtter CJfalseInfection of primary nasal epithelial cells differentiates among lethal and seasonal human coronaviruses.The nasal epithelium is the initial entry portal and primary barrier to infection by all human coronaviruses (HCoVs). We utilize primary nasal epithelial cells grown at air-liquid interface, which recapitulate the heterogeneous cellular population as well as mucociliary clearance functions of the <i>in vivo</i> nasal epithelium, to compare lethal (SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV) and seasonal (HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E) HCoVs. All four HCoVs replicate productively in nasal cultures but diverge significantly in terms of cytotoxicity induced following infection, as the seasonal HCoVs as well as SARS-CoV-2 cause cellular cytotoxicity as well as epithelial barrier disruption, while MERS-CoV does not. Treatment of nasal cultures with type 2 cytokine IL-13 to mimic asthmatic airways differentially impacts2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-05T11:28:30.974Z2025-04-05T11:28:30.974ZS-EPMC96038263629942210.1101/2022.10.17.512617