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Berger L, Wolf J, Kalbitz S, Kellner N, Lübbert C, Borte S. Comparative Analysis of Lymphocyte Populations in Post-COVID-19 Condition and COVID-19 Convalescent Individuals. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1286. [PMID: 38928701 PMCID: PMC11202600 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14121286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Reduced lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood are one of the most common observations in acute phases of viral infections. Although many studies have already examined the impact of immune (dys)regulation during SARS-CoV-2 infection, there are still uncertainties about the long-term consequences for lymphocyte homeostasis. Furthermore, as persistent cellular aberrations have been described following other viral infections, patients with "Post-COVID-19 Condition" (PCC) may present similarly. In order to investigate cellular changes in the adaptive immune system, we performed a retrospective analysis of flow cytometric data from lymphocyte subpopulations in 106 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who received medical care at our institution. The patients were divided into three groups according to the follow-up date; laboratory analyses of COVID-19 patients were compared with 28 unexposed healthy controls. Regarding B lymphocyte subsets, levels of IgA + CD27+, IgG + CD27+, IgM + CD27- and switched B cells were significantly reduced at the last follow-up compared to unexposed healthy controls (UHC). Of the 106 COVID-19 patients, 56 were clinically classified as featuring PCC. Significant differences between PCC and COVID-19 convalescents compared to UHC were observed in T helper cells and class-switched B cells. However, we did not detect specific or long-lasting immune cellular changes in PCC compared to the non-post-COVID-19 condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Berger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Wolf
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
- ImmunoDeficiencyCenter Leipzig, Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases, Hospital St. Georg, 04139 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sven Kalbitz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nils Kellner
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
- ImmunoDeficiencyCenter Leipzig, Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases, Hospital St. Georg, 04139 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Lübbert
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Borte
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital St. Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
- ImmunoDeficiencyCenter Leipzig, Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases, Hospital St. Georg, 04139 Leipzig, Germany
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Heydari R, Tavassolifar MJ, Fayazzadeh S, Sadatpour O, Meyfour A. Long non-coding RNAs in biomarking COVID-19: a machine learning-based approach. Virol J 2024; 21:134. [PMID: 38849961 PMCID: PMC11161961 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02408-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus pandemic that started in 2019 has caused the highest mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. Data on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is scarce. We aimed to elucidate the relationship of three important lncRNAs in the inflammatory states, H19, taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1), and colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) with key factors in inflammation and fibrosis induction including signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3), alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 28 COVID-19 patients and 17 healthy controls were collected. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to evaluate the expression of RNAs and lncRNAs. Western blotting analysis was also performed to determine the expression levels of STAT3 and α-SMA proteins. Machine learning and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were carried out to evaluate the distinguishing ability of lncRNAs. RESULTS The expression levels of H19, TUG1, and CRNDE were significantly overexpressed in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, STAT3 and α-SMA expression levels were remarkedly increased at both transcript and protein levels in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy subjects and were correlated with Three lncRNAs. Likewise, IL-6 and TNF-α were considerably upregulated in COVID-19 patients. Machine learning and ROC curve analysis showed that CRNDE-H19 panel has the proper ability to distinguish COVID-19 patients from healthy individuals (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.86). CONCLUSION The overexpression of three lncRNAs in COVID-19 patients observed in this study may align with significant manifestations of COVID-19. Furthermore, their co-expression with STAT3 and α-SMA, two critical factors implicated in inflammation and fibrosis induction, underscores their potential involvement in exacerbating cardiovascular, pulmonary and common symptoms and complications associated with COVID-19. The combination of CRNDE and H19 lncRNAs seems to be an impressive host-based biomarker panel for screening and diagnosis of COVID-19 patients from healthy controls. Research into lncRNAs can provide a robust platform to find new viral infection-related mediators and propose novel therapeutic strategies for viral infections and immune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raheleh Heydari
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Tavassolifar
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Fayazzadeh
- Bioinformatics and Computational Omics Lab (BioCOOL), Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Sadatpour
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Anna Meyfour
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Moreno E, Ciordia S, Fátima SM, Jiménez D, Martínez-Sanz J, Vizcarra P, Ron R, Sánchez-Conde M, Bargiela R, Sanchez-Carrillo S, Moreno S, Corrales F, Ferrer M, Serrano-Villar S. Proteomic snapshot of saliva samples predicts new pathways implicated in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Clin Proteomics 2024; 21:37. [PMID: 38778280 PMCID: PMC11112864 DOI: 10.1186/s12014-024-09482-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on the microbiome's human pathways and active members that can affect SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and pathogenesis in the salivary proteome is very scarce. Here, we studied a unique collection of samples harvested from April to June 2020 from unvaccinated patients. METHODS We compared 10 infected and hospitalized patients with severe (n = 5) and moderate (n = 5) coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with 10 uninfected individuals, including non-COVID-19 but susceptible individuals (n = 5) and non-COVID-19 and nonsusceptible healthcare workers with repeated high-risk exposures (n = 5). RESULTS By performing high-throughput proteomic profiling in saliva samples, we detected 226 unique differentially expressed (DE) human proteins between groups (q-value ≤ 0.05) out of 3376 unambiguously identified proteins (false discovery rate ≤ 1%). Major differences were observed between the non-COVID-19 and nonsusceptible groups. Bioinformatics analysis of DE proteins revealed human proteomic signatures related to inflammatory responses, central cellular processes, and antiviral activity associated with the saliva of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (p-value ≤ 0.0004). Discriminatory biomarker signatures from human saliva include cystatins, protective molecules present in the oral cavity, calprotectins, involved in cell cycle progression, and histones, related to nucleosome functions. The expression levels of two human proteins related to protein transport in the cytoplasm, DYNC1 (p-value, 0.0021) and MAPRE1 (p-value, 0.047), correlated with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plasma activity. Finally, the proteomes of microorganisms present in the saliva samples showed 4 main microbial functional features related to ribosome functioning that were overrepresented in the infected group. CONCLUSION Our study explores potential candidates involved in pathways implicated in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, although further studies in larger cohorts will be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Moreno
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sergio Ciordia
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santos Milhano Fátima
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Jiménez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Martínez-Sanz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Vizcarra
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Ron
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matilde Sánchez-Conde
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Bargiela
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Sergio Sanchez-Carrillo
- Instituto de Catalisis y Petroleoquimica (ICP), CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM), CSIC-UAM, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Moreno
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Corrales
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Ferrer
- Instituto de Catalisis y Petroleoquimica (ICP), CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Serrano-Villar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo, Km 9.100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Iancu IV, Diaconu CC, Plesa A, Fudulu A, Albulescu A, Neagu AI, Pitica IM, Dragu LD, Bleotu C, Chivu‐Economescu M, Matei L, Mambet C, Nedeianu S, Popescu CP, Sultana C, Ruta SM, Botezatu A. LncRNAs expression profile in a family household cluster of COVID-19 patients. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18226. [PMID: 38501860 PMCID: PMC10949602 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 3 years after the start of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the molecular mechanisms behind the viral pathogenesis are still not completely understood. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), well-known players in viral infections, can represent prime candidates for patients' risk stratification. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the lncRNA profile in a family cluster of COVID-19 cases with different disease progression, during the initial wave of the pandemic and to evaluate their potential as biomarkers for COVID-19 evolution. LncRNA expression was investigated in nasopharyngeal swabs routinely collected for diagnosis. Distinct expression patterns of five lncRNAs (HOTAIR, HOTAIRM1, TMEVPG1, NDM29 and snaR) were identified in all the investigated cases, and they were associated with disease severity. Additionally, a significant increase in the expression of GAS5-family and ZFAS1 lncRNAs, which target factors involved in the inflammatory response, was observed in the sample collected from the patient with the most severe disease progression. An lncRNA prognostic signature was defined, opening up novel research avenues in understanding the interactions between lncRNAs and SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adriana Plesa
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
| | - Alina Fudulu
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
| | - Adrian Albulescu
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
- Department of PharmacologyNational Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and DevelopmentBucharestRomania
| | - Ana Iulia Neagu
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | | | | | | | | | - Lilia Matei
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
| | | | | | - Corneliu Petru Popescu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
- Dr Victor Babes Infectious and Tropical Diseases Clinical HospitalBucharestRomania
| | - Camelia Sultana
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - Simona Maria Ruta
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and PharmacyBucharestRomania
| | - Anca Botezatu
- Stefan S Nicolau Institute of VirologyBucharestRomania
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5
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Hu C, Hu W, Tang B, Bao Q, Jiang X, Tang L, Wang H, He L, Lv M, Xiao Y, Liu C, Li X, Liu Y, Li J, Huang G, Dong Z, Li Z, Guo T, Yang S. Plasma and urine proteomics and gut microbiota analysis reveal potential factors affecting COVID-19 vaccination response. iScience 2024; 27:108851. [PMID: 38318387 PMCID: PMC10838952 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination relies on the induction of neutralizing antibodies, which can vary among vaccine recipients. In this study, we investigated the potential factors affecting the neutralizing antibody response by combining plasma and urine proteomics and gut microbiota analysis. We found that activation of the LXR/FXR pathway in plasma was associated with the production of ACE2-RBD-inhibiting antibodies, while urine proteins related to complement system, acute phase response signaling, LXR/FXR, and STAT3 pathways were correlated with neutralizing antibody production. Moreover, we observed a correlation between the gut microbiota and plasma and urine proteins, as well as the vaccination response. Based on the above data, we built a predictive model for vaccination response (AUC = 0.85). Our study provides insights into characteristic plasma and urine proteins and gut microbiota associated with the ACE2-RBD-inhibiting antibodies, which could benefit our understanding of the host response to COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
- iMarkerlab, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weichao Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
- iMarkerlab, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Qiyu Bao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Li Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - He Wang
- iMarkerlab, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lijiao He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Moyang Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Yufeng Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Xinzhe Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Yunyi Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Guiping Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Zhen Dong
- iMarkerlab, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhongjun Li
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Tiannan Guo
- iMarkerlab, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shiming Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China
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Kim J, Qiao F, Singh AK, Won J, Singh I. Efficacies of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and GSNO reductase inhibitor in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induced acute lung disease in mice. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1304697. [PMID: 38143504 PMCID: PMC10748393 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1304697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which initially surfaced in late 2019, often triggers severe pulmonary complications, encompassing various disease mechanisms such as intense lung inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and pulmonary embolism. Currently, however, there's no drug addressing all these mechanisms simultaneously. This study explored the multi-targeting potential of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and N6022, an inhibitor of GSNO reductase (GSNOR) on markers of inflammatory, vascular, and thrombotic diseases related to COVID-19-induced acute lung disease. For this, acute lung disease was induced in C57BL/6 mice through intranasal administration of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 domain (SP-S1). The mice exhibited fever, body weight loss, and increased blood levels and lung expression of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α and IL-6) as well as increased vascular inflammation mediated by ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and lung infiltration by immune cells (e.g., neutrophils, monocytes, and activated cytotoxic and helper T cells). Further, the mice exhibited increased lung hyperpermeability (lung Evans blue extravasation) leading to lung edema development as well as elevated blood coagulation factors (e.g., fibrinogen, thrombin, activated platelets, and von Willebrand factor) and lung fibrin deposition. Similar to the patients with COVID-19, male mice showed more severe disease than female mice, along with higher GSNOR expression in the lungs. Optimization of GSNO by treatment with exogenous GSNO or inhibition of GSNOR by N6022 (or GSNO knockout) protects against SP-S1-induced lung diseases in both genders. These findings provide evidence for the potential efficacies of GSNO and GSNOR inhibitors in addressing the multi-mechanistic nature of SARS-CoV-2 SP-associated acute-lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judong Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Fei Qiao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Avtar K. Singh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Jeseong Won
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Inderjit Singh
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
- Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
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7
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Lao P, Chen J, Tang L, Zhang J, Chen Y, Fang Y, Fan X. Regulatory T cells in lung disease and transplantation. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20231331. [PMID: 37795866 PMCID: PMC10611924 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary disease can refer to the disease of the lung itself or the pulmonary manifestations of systemic diseases, which are often connected to the malfunction of the immune system. Regulatory T (Treg) cells have been shown to be important in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing inflammatory damage, including lung diseases. Given the increasing amount of evidence linking Treg cells to various pulmonary conditions, Treg cells might serve as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung diseases and potentially promote lung transplant tolerance. The most potent and well-defined Treg cells are Foxp3-expressing CD4+ Treg cells, which contribute to the prevention of autoimmune lung diseases and the promotion of lung transplant rejection. The protective mechanisms of Treg cells in lung disease and transplantation involve multiple immune suppression mechanisms. This review summarizes the development, phenotype and function of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Then, we focus on the therapeutic potential of Treg cells in preventing lung disease and limiting lung transplant rejection. Furthermore, we discussed the possibility of Treg cell utilization in clinical applications. This will provide an overview of current research advances in Treg cells and their relevant application in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peizhen Lao
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Longqian Tang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jiwen Zhang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yuyin Fang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Xingliang Fan
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
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8
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Mahjoor M, Mahmoudvand G, Farokhi S, Shadab A, Kashfi M, Afkhami H. Double-edged sword of JAK/STAT signaling pathway in viral infections: novel insights into virotherapy. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:272. [PMID: 37784164 PMCID: PMC10544547 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01240-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) is an intricate signaling cascade composed of various cytokines, interferons (IFN, growth factors, and other molecules. This pathway provides a delicate mechanism through which extracellular factors adjust gene expression, thereby acting as a substantial basis for environmental signals to influence cell growth and differentiation. The interactions between the JAK/STAT cascade and antiviral IFNs are critical to the host's immune response against viral microorganisms. Recently, with the emergence of therapeutic classes that target JAKs, the significance of this cascade has been recognized in an unprecedented way. Despite the functions of the JAK/STAT pathway in adjusting immune responses against viral pathogens, a vast body of evidence proposes the role of this cascade in the replication and pathogenesis of viral pathogens. In this article, we review the structure of the JAK/STAT signaling cascade and its role in immuno-inflammatory responses. We also highlight the paradoxical effects of this pathway in the pathogenesis of viral infections. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Mahjoor
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Golnaz Mahmoudvand
- Student Research Committee, USERN Office, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Simin Farokhi
- Student Research Committee, USERN Office, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Alireza Shadab
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Iran University of Medical Sciences, Deputy of Health, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Kashfi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hamed Afkhami
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
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9
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Gęgotek A, Zarkovic N, Orehovec B, Jaganjac M, Sunjic SB, Skrzydlewska E. Short Survey on the Protein Modifications in Plasma during SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14109. [PMID: 37762413 PMCID: PMC10531908 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, it is important to understand the pathology of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with respiratory failure and high mortality. The plasma proteome, including protein modification by lipid peroxidation products in COVID-19 survivors (COVID-19; n = 10) and deceased individuals (CovDeath; n = 10) was compared in samples collected upon admission to the hospital, when there was no difference in their status, with that of healthy individuals (Ctr; n = 10). The obtained results show that COVID-19 development strongly alters the expression of proteins involved in the regulation of exocytosis and platelet degranulation (top 20 altered proteins indicated by analysis of variance; p-value (False Discovery Rate) cutoff at 5%). These changes were most pronounced in the CovDeath group. In addition, the levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) adducts increased 2- and 3-fold, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) adducts increased 7- and 2.5-fold, respectively, in COVID-19 and CovDeath groups. Kinases and proinflammatory proteins were particularly affected by these modifications. Protein adducts with 15-deoxy-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) were increased 2.5-fold in COVID-19 patients, including modifications of proteins such as p53 and STAT3, whereas CovDeath showed a decrease of approximately 60% compared with Ctr. This study for the first time demonstrates the formation of lipid metabolism products-protein adducts in plasma from survived and deceased COVID-19 patients, significantly distinguishing them, which may be a predictor of the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Gęgotek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Kilinskiego 1, 15-069 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Neven Zarkovic
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, Div. Molecular Medicine Laboratory for Oxidative Stress Bijenicka 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.Z.); (M.J.); (S.B.S.)
| | | | - Morana Jaganjac
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, Div. Molecular Medicine Laboratory for Oxidative Stress Bijenicka 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.Z.); (M.J.); (S.B.S.)
| | - Suzana Borovic Sunjic
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, Div. Molecular Medicine Laboratory for Oxidative Stress Bijenicka 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.Z.); (M.J.); (S.B.S.)
| | - Elżbieta Skrzydlewska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Kilinskiego 1, 15-069 Bialystok, Poland;
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10
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Sfera A, Rahman L, Zapata-Martín Del Campo CM, Kozlakidis Z. Long COVID as a Tauopathy: Of "Brain Fog" and "Fusogen Storms". Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12648. [PMID: 37628830 PMCID: PMC10454863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Long COVID, also called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, is characterized by a multitude of lingering symptoms, including impaired cognition, that can last for many months. This symptom, often called "brain fog", affects the life quality of numerous individuals, increasing medical complications as well as healthcare expenditures. The etiopathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2-induced cognitive deficit is unclear, but the most likely cause is chronic inflammation maintained by a viral remnant thriving in select body reservoirs. These viral sanctuaries are likely comprised of fused, senescent cells, including microglia and astrocytes, that the pathogen can convert into neurotoxic phenotypes. Moreover, as the enteric nervous system contains neurons and glia, the virus likely lingers in the gastrointestinal tract as well, accounting for the intestinal symptoms of long COVID. Fusogens are proteins that can overcome the repulsive forces between cell membranes, allowing the virus to coalesce with host cells and enter the cytoplasm. In the intracellular compartment, the pathogen hijacks the actin cytoskeleton, fusing host cells with each other and engendering pathological syncytia. Cell-cell fusion enables the virus to infect the healthy neighboring cells. We surmise that syncytia formation drives cognitive impairment by facilitating the "seeding" of hyperphosphorylated Tau, documented in COVID-19. In our previous work, we hypothesized that the SARS-CoV-2 virus induces premature endothelial senescence, increasing the permeability of the intestinal and blood-brain barrier. This enables the migration of gastrointestinal tract microbes and/or their components into the host circulation, eventually reaching the brain where they may induce cognitive dysfunction. For example, translocated lipopolysaccharides or microbial DNA can induce Tau hyperphosphorylation, likely accounting for memory problems. In this perspective article, we examine the pathogenetic mechanisms and potential biomarkers of long COVID, including microbial cell-free DNA, interleukin 22, and phosphorylated Tau, as well as the beneficial effect of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Sfera
- Paton State Hospital, 3102 Highland Ave, Patton, CA 92369, USA
- School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, 11139 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Riverside 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Leah Rahman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 222 Huestis Hall, Eugene, OR 97401, USA
| | | | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 69000 Lyon, France
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11
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Pi P, Zeng Z, Zeng L, Han B, Bai X, Xu S. Molecular mechanisms of COVID-19-induced pulmonary fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1218059. [PMID: 37601070 PMCID: PMC10436482 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1218059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
As the outbreak of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first broke out in Hubei Province, China, at the end of 2019. It has brought great challenges and harms to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 mainly affects the lungs and is mainly manifested as pulmonary disease. However, one of the biggest crises arises from the emergence of COVID-19-induced fibrosis. At present, there are still many questions about how COVID-19 induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) occurs and how to treat and regulate its long-term effects. In addition, as an important process of fibrosis, the effect of COVID-19 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be an important factor driving PF. This review summarizes the main pathogenesis and treatment mechanisms of COVID-19 related to PF. Starting with the basic mechanisms of PF, such as EMT, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, inflammation, macrophages, innate lymphoid cells, matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, hedgehog pathway as well as Notch signaling. Further, we highlight the importance of COVID-19-induced EMT in the process of PF and provide an overview of the related molecular mechanisms, which will facilitate future research to propose new clinical therapeutic solutions for the treatment of COVID-19-induced PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Pi
- School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhipeng Zeng
- School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Liqing Zeng
- School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Han
- School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Xizhe Bai
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shousheng Xu
- School of Sports Engineering, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
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12
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Qin D, Yu F, Wu D, Han C, Yao X, Yang L, Yang X, Wang Q, He D, Zhao B. The underlying molecular mechanisms and biomarkers between periodontitis and COVID-19. BMC Oral Health 2023; 23:524. [PMID: 37495990 PMCID: PMC10369766 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Emerging evidence shows the clinical consequences of patient with COVID-19 and periodontitis are not promising, and periodontitis is a risk factor. Periodontitis and COVID-19 probably have a relationship. Hence, this study aimed to identify the common molecular mechanism that may help to devise potential therapeutic strategies in the future. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed two RNA-seq datasets for differential expressed genes, enrichment of biological processes, transcription factors (TFs) and deconvolution-based immune cell types in periodontitis, COVID-19 and healthy controls. Relationships between TFs and mRNA were established by Pearson correlation analysis, and the common TFs-mRNA regulatory network and nine co-upregulated TFs of the two diseases was obtained. The RT-PCR detected the TFs. RESULTS A total of 1616 and 10201 differentially expressed gene (DEGs) from periodontitis and COVID-19 are found. Moreover, nine shared TFs and common biological processes associated with lymphocyte activation involved in immune response were identified across periodontitis and COVID-19. The cell type enrichment revealed elevated plasma cells among two diseases. The RT-PCR further confirmed the nine TFs up-regulation in periodontitis. CONCLUSION The pathogenesis of periodontitis and COVID-19 is closely related to the expression of TFs and lymphocyte activation, which can provide potential targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Qin
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Feiyan Yu
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Dongchao Wu
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Chong Han
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Xuemin Yao
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Lulu Yang
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Xi Yang
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Dongning He
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
| | - Bin Zhao
- Shanxi Province Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Prevention and New Materials, Shanxi Medical University School and Hospital of Stomatology, No 63, New South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
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13
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Tian L, He M, Fan H, Zhang H, Dong X, Qiao M, Tang C, Yu Y, Chen T, Zhou N. COVID-19 of differing severity: from bulk to single-cell expression data analysis. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:1777-1797. [PMID: 37486005 PMCID: PMC10446813 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2023.2239620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is raging worldwide and causes an immense disease burden. Despite this, the biomarkers and targeting drugs of COVID-19 of differing severity remain largely unknown. Based on the GSE164805 dataset, we identified modules most critical for mild COVID-19 (mCOVID-19) and severe COVID-19 (sCOVID-19) through WGCNA, respectively. We subsequently constructed a protein-protein interaction network, and detected 16 hub genes for mCOVID-19 and 10 hub genes for sCOVID-19, followed by the prediction of upstream transcription factors (TFs) and kinases. The enrichment analysis then showed downregulation of TNFA signaling via NFKB for mCOVID-19, as well as downregulation of MYC targets V1 for sCOVID-19. Infiltration degrees of many immune cells, such as macrophages, were also sharply different between mCOVID-19 and sCOVID-19 samples. Predicted protein targeting drugs with the highest scores nearly all belong to naturally derived or synthetic glucocorticoids. For the two single-cell RNA-seq datasets, we explored the expression distribution of hub genes for mCOVID-19/sCOVID-19 in each cell type. The expression levels of PRKCA, MCM5, TYMS, RBBP4, BCL6, FLOT1, KDM6B, and TLR2 were found to be cell-type-specific. Furthermore, the expression levels of 10 hub genes for mCOVID-19 were significantly upregulated in PBMCs between eight healthy controls and eight mCOVID-19 patients at our institution. Collectively, we detected critical modules, pathways, TFs, kinases, immune cells, targeting drugs, hub genes, and their expression distributions in different cell types that may involve the pathogenesis of COVID-19 of differing severity, which may propel earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment of this intractable disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Tian
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Min He
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Huafeng Fan
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao Dong
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Mengkai Qiao
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Chenyu Tang
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yan Yu
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Nan Zhou
- Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China
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14
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Abyadeh M, Yadav VK, Kaya A. Common molecular signatures between coronavirus infection and Alzheimer's disease reveal targets for drug development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544970. [PMID: 37398415 PMCID: PMC10312734 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive decline has been reported as a common consequence of COVID-19, and studies have suggested a link between COVID-19 infection and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. To shed light on this link, we conducted an integrated genomic analysis using a novel Robust Rank Aggregation method to identify common transcriptional signatures of the frontal cortex, a critical area for cognitive function, between individuals with AD and COVID-19. We then performed various analyses, including the KEGG pathway, GO ontology, protein-protein interaction, hub gene, gene-miRNA, and gene-transcription factor interaction analyses to identify molecular components of biological pathways that are associated with AD in the brain also show similar changes in severe COVID-19. Our findings revealed the molecular mechanisms underpinning the association between COVID-19 infection and AD development and identified several genes, miRNAs, and TFs that may be targeted for therapeutic purposes. However, further research is needed to investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Abyadeh
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
| | - Vijay K. Yadav
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alaattin Kaya
- Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
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15
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Roshni J, Sivakumar M, Bahammam FA, Bhandi S, Patil S, Kamath M, Abusharha A, Ahmed SSSJ. New Ways to Protect the Host from SARS-CoV-2? Lung Microbiome Metabolites Inhibit STAT3 and Modulate the Immunological Network. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2023; 27:237-244. [PMID: 37140561 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2023.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection is a systemic disease that affects multiple organs, biological pathways, and cell types. A systems biology approach would benefit the study of COVID-19 in the pandemic as well as the endemic state. Notably, patients with COVID-19 have dysbiosis of lung microbiota whose functional relevance to the host is largely unknown. We carried out a systems biology investigation of the impact of lung microbiome-derived metabolites on host immune system during COVID-19. RNAseq was performed to identify the host-specific pro- and anti-inflammatory differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in bronchial epithelium and alveolar cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The overlapping DEGs were harnessed to construct an immune network while their key transcriptional regulator was deciphered. We identified 68 overlapping genes from both cell types to construct the immune network, and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) was found to regulate the majority of the network proteins. Furthermore, thymidine diphosphate produced from the lung microbiome had the highest affinity with STAT3 (-6.349 kcal/mol) than the known STAT3 inhibitors (n = 410), with an affinity ranging from -5.39 to 1.31 kcal/mol. In addition, the molecular dynamic studies showed distinguishable changes in the behavior of the STAT3 complex when compared with free STAT3. Overall, our results provide new observations on the importance of lung microbiome metabolites that regulate the host immune system in patients with COVID-19, and may open up new avenues for preventive medicine and therapeutics innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jency Roshni
- Drug Discovery and Multi-omics Lab, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mahema Sivakumar
- Drug Discovery and Multi-omics Lab, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Faris Ahmed Bahammam
- Fellow Rhinology and Facial Plastics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shilpa Bhandi
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, Utah, USA
- Department of Cariology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Shankargouda Patil
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, South Jordan, Utah, USA
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Manjunath Kamath
- Centre for Advance Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India
| | - Ali Abusharha
- Department of Optometry, Applied Medical Sciences College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shiek S S J Ahmed
- Drug Discovery and Multi-omics Lab, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
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16
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Fu Y, Fang Y, Gong S, Xue T, Wang P, She L, Huang J. Deep learning-based network pharmacology for exploring the mechanism of licorice for the treatment of COVID-19. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5844. [PMID: 37037848 PMCID: PMC10086012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31380-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Licorice, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for the treatment of COVID-19, but all active compounds and corresponding targets are still not clear. Therefore, this study proposed a deep learning-based network pharmacology approach to identify more potential active compounds and targets of licorice. 4 compounds (quercetin, naringenin, liquiritigenin, and licoisoflavanone), 2 targets (SYK and JAK2) and the relevant pathways (P53, cAMP, and NF-kB) were predicted, which were confirmed by previous studies to be associated with SARS-CoV-2-infection. In addition, 2 new active compounds (glabrone and vestitol) and 2 new targets (PTEN and MAP3K8) were further validated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations (simultaneous molecular dynamics), as well as the results showed that these active compounds bound well to COVID-19 related targets, including the main protease (Mpro), the spike protein (S-protein) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Overall, in this study, glabrone and vestitol from licorice were found to inhibit viral replication by inhibiting the activation of Mpro, S-protein and ACE2; related compounds in licorice may reduce the inflammatory response and inhibit apoptosis by acting on PTEN and MAP3K8. Therefore, licorice has been proposed as an effective candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 through PTEN, MAP3K8, Mpro, S-protein and ACE2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fu
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Yangyue Fang
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Shuai Gong
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Tao Xue
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Li She
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Jianping Huang
- Alibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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17
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Suresh MV, Francis S, Aktay S, Kralovich G, Raghavendran K. Therapeutic potential of curcumin in ARDS and COVID-19. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2023; 50:267-276. [PMID: 36480131 PMCID: PMC9877870 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Curcumin is a safe, non-toxic, readily available and naturally occurring compound, an active constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric). Curcumin could potentially treat diseases, but faces poor physicochemical and pharmacological characteristics. To overcome these limitations, we developed a stable, water-soluble formulation of curcumin called cyclodextrin-complexed curcumin (CDC). We have previously shown that direct delivery of CDC to the lung following lipopolysaccharides exposure reduces acute lung injury (ALI) and effectively reduces lung injury, inflammation and mortality in mice following Klebsiella pneumoniae. Recently, we found that administration of CDC led to a significant reduction in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression in gene and protein levels following pneumonia, indicating its potential in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, we consider the clinical features of ALI and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the role of curcumin in modulating the pathogenesis of bacterial/viral-induced ARDS and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sairah Francis
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sinan Aktay
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Georgia Kralovich
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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18
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Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Modulates the Switch of Macrophage Polarization from M1 to M2 by Upregulating MoDC-Released sCD83. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030773. [PMID: 36992481 PMCID: PMC10054646 DOI: 10.3390/v15030773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), the most economically important infectious disease of pigs, elicits poor innate and adaptive immune responses. Soluble CD83 (sCD83), a secretion from various immune cell populations, especially MoDCs, is involved in negatively regulating the immune response. We speculate sCD83 may be a critical factor in the process of PRRSV-coordinated macrophage polarization. In this study, we found that PAMs co-cultured with PRRSV-infected MoDCs inhibited the M1 macrophage while enhancing the M2 macrophage. This was accompanied by a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and iNOS and an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and Arg1. Meanwhile, sCD83 incubation causes the same specific effects lead to a switch in macrophage from M1 to M2. Neutralization of sCD83 removes the inhibitory effects of PRRSV on PAMs. Using reverse genetics, we generated recombinant PRRSVs with mutations in N protein, nsp1α, and nsp10 (knockout sCD83-concerned key amino acid site). Four mutant viruses lost the suppression of M1 macrophage markers, in contrast to the restriction of the upregulation of M2 macrophage markers. These findings suggest that PRRSV modulates the switch of macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 by upregulating the MoDC-induced secretion of CD83, providing new insights into the mechanism by which PRRSV regulates host immunity.
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19
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Cai H, Chen Y, Feng Y, Asadi M, Kaufman L, Lee K, Kehrer T, Miorin L, Garcia-Sastre A, Gusella GL, Gu L, Ni Z, Mou S, He JC, Zhou W. SARS-CoV-2 viral protein ORF3A injures renal tubules by interacting with TRIM59 to induce STAT3 activation. Mol Ther 2023; 31:774-787. [PMID: 36523164 PMCID: PMC9750503 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury occurs frequently in COVID-19 patients infected by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and infection of kidney cells by this virus has been reported. However, little is known about the direct impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection upon the renal tubular cells. We report that SARS-CoV-2 activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling and caused cellular injury in the human renal tubular cell line. Mechanistically, the viral protein ORF3A of SARS-CoV-2 augmented both NF-κB and STAT3 signaling and increased the expression of kidney injury molecule 1. SARS-CoV-2 infection or expression of ORF3A alone elevated the protein level of tripartite motif-containing protein 59 (TRIM59), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which interacts with both ORF3A and STAT3. The excessive TRIM59 in turn dissociated the phosphatase TCPTP from binding to STAT3 and hence inhibited the dephosphorylation of STAT3, leading to persistent STAT3 activation. Consistently, ORF3A induced renal injury in zebrafish and mice. In addition, expression of TRIM59 was elevated in the kidney autopsies of COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury. Thus, the aberrant activation of STAT3 signaling by TRIM59 plays a significant role in the renal tubular cell injury caused by SARS-CoV-2, which suggests a potential targeted therapy for the renal complications of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Cai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Feng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Morad Asadi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lewis Kaufman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kyung Lee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Thomas Kehrer
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lisa Miorin
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Global Health Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Adolfo Garcia-Sastre
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Global Health Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - G Luca Gusella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Leyi Gu
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaohui Ni
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan Mou
- Department of Nephrology, Molecular Cell Lab for Kidney Disease, Shanghai Peritoneal Dialysis Research Center, Renji Hospital, Uremia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - John Cijiang He
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Weibin Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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20
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Phillips S, Mishra T, Khadka S, Bohan D, Espada CE, Maury W, Wu L. Epitranscriptomic N6-Methyladenosine Profile of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Human Lung Epithelial Cells. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0394322. [PMID: 36625663 PMCID: PMC9927293 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03943-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a dynamic posttranscriptional RNA modification that plays an important role in determining transcript fate. The functional consequence of m6A deposition is dictated by a group of host proteins that specifically recognize and bind the m6A modification, leading to changes in RNA stability, transport, splicing, or translation. The cellular m6A methylome undergoes changes during certain pathogenic conditions such as viral infections. However, how m6A modification of host cell transcripts and noncoding RNAs change during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection has not been reported. Here, we define the epitranscriptomic m6A profile of SARS-CoV-2-infected human lung epithelial cells compared to uninfected controls. We identified mRNA and long and small noncoding RNA species that are differentially m6A modified in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The most significantly differentially methylated transcript was the precursor of microRNA-4486 (miRNA-4486), which showed significant increases in abundance and percentage of methylated transcripts in infected cells. Pathway analyses revealed that differentially methylated transcripts were significantly associated with several cancer-related pathways, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, cell death, and proliferation. Upstream regulators predicted to be associated with the proteins encoded by differentially methylated mRNAs include several proteins involved in the type-I interferon response, inflammation, and cytokine signaling. IMPORTANCE Posttranscriptional modification of viral and cellular RNA by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays an important role in regulating the replication of many viruses and the cellular immune response to infection. We therefore sought to define the epitranscriptomic m6A profile of human lung epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our analyses demonstrate the differential methylation of both coding and noncoding cellular RNAs in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells compared to uninfected controls. Pathway analyses revealed that several of these RNAs may be involved in the cellular response to infection, such as type-I interferon. Our study implicates m6A modification of infected-cell RNA as a mechanism of posttranscriptional gene regulation during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacia Phillips
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Tarun Mishra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Shaubhagya Khadka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Dana Bohan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Constanza E. Espada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Wendy Maury
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Li Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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21
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Role of the MicroRNAs in the Pathogenic Mechanism of Painful Symptoms in Long COVID: Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043574. [PMID: 36834984 PMCID: PMC9963913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has caused more than 6.7 million tragic deaths, plus, a large percentage of people who survived it present a myriad of chronic symptoms that last for at least 6 months; this has been named as long COVID. Some of the most prevalent are painful symptoms like headache, joint pain, migraine, neuropathic-like pain, fatigue and myalgia. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate genes, and their involvement in several pathologies has been extensively shown. A deregulation of miRNAs has been observed in patients with COVID-19. The objective of the present systematic review was to show the prevalence of chronic pain-like symptoms of patients with long COVID and based on the expression of miRNAs in patients with COVID-19, and to present a proposal on how they may be involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of chronic pain-like symptoms. A systematic review was carried out in online databases for original articles published between March 2020 to April 2022; the systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and it was registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42022318992. A total of 22 articles were included for the evaluation of miRNAs and 20 regarding long COVID; the overall prevalence of pain-like symptoms was around 10 to 87%, plus, the miRNAs that were commonly up and downregulated were miR-21-5p, miR-29a,b,c-3p miR-92a,b-3p, miR-92b-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-200a, c-3p, miR-320a,b,c,d,e-3p, and miR-451a. The molecular pathways that we hypothesized to be modulated by these miRNAs are the IL-6/STAT3 proinflammatory axis and the compromise of the blood-nerve barrier; these two mechanisms could be associated with the prevalence of fatigue and chronic pain in the long COVID population, plus they could be novel pharmacological targets in order to reduce and prevent these symptoms.
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22
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Federica G, Giuseppina F, Veronica L, Gianpaolo Z, Massimo T, Veronica DM, Giuseppe S, Maria TA. An untargeted metabolomic approach to investigate antiviral defence mechanisms in memory leukocytes secreting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in vitro. Sci Rep 2023; 13:629. [PMID: 36635345 PMCID: PMC9835734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26156-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence shows that individuals infected by SARS-CoV-2 experience an altered metabolic state in multiple organs. Metabolic activities are directly involved in modulating immune responses against infectious diseases, yet our understanding of how host metabolism relates to inflammatory responses remains limited. To better elucidate the underlying biochemistry of the leukocyte response, we focused our analysis on possible relationships between SARS-CoV-2 post-infection stages and distinct metabolic pathways. Indeed, we observed a significant altered metabolism of tryptophan and urea cycle pathways in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained 60-90 days after infection and showing in vitro IgG antibody memory for spike-S1 antigen (n = 17). This work, for the first time, identifies metabolic routes in cell metabolism possibly related to later stages of immune defence against SARS-CoV-2 infection, namely, when circulating antibodies may be absent but an antibody memory is present. The results suggest reprogramming of leukocyte metabolism after viral pathogenesis through activation of specific amino acid pathways possibly related to protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gevi Federica
- grid.12597.380000 0001 2298 9743Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Fanelli Giuseppina
- grid.12597.380000 0001 2298 9743Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lelli Veronica
- grid.12597.380000 0001 2298 9743Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Zarletti Gianpaolo
- grid.12597.380000 0001 2298 9743Department of Innovative Biology, Agro-Food and Forestry, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Tiberi Massimo
- grid.12597.380000 0001 2298 9743Department of Innovative Biology, Agro-Food and Forestry, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - De Molfetta Veronica
- grid.12597.380000 0001 2298 9743Department of Innovative Biology, Agro-Food and Forestry, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Scapigliati Giuseppe
- Department of Innovative Biology, Agro-Food and Forestry, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Timperio Anna Maria
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
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23
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Liu T, Zhang Z, Shen W, Wu Y, Bian T. MicroRNA Let-7 Induces M2 Macrophage Polarization in COPD Emphysema Through the IL-6/STAT3 Pathway. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2023; 18:575-591. [PMID: 37077365 PMCID: PMC10108876 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s404850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background M2 polarized macrophages are involved in the occurrence and development of emphysema in COPD patients. However, the molecular mechanism of M2 macrophage polarization is still unclear. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of let-7 differentially expressed in bronchial epithelial cells of COPD patients participating in COPD emphysema by regulating the expression of IL-6 and inducing M2 polarization of alveolar macrophages (AM). Materials and Methods We measured let-7c expression in human lung tissue, serum and the lung tissue of cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed mice by qRT‒PCR. We observed the M1/M2 AM polarization in the lungs of COPD patients and COPD model mice by immunofluorescence analysis. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of MMP9/12 in the lung tissue of COPD patients and CS-exposed mice. An in vitro experiment was performed to determine the molecular mechanism of let-7c-induced macrophage polarization. Results Let-7c expression was downregulated in COPD patients, CS-exposed mice, and CS extract (CSE)-treated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. AMs in COPD patients and CS-exposed mice were dominated by the M2 type, and the release of MMP9/12 was increased. In vitro, the transfection of mimics overexpressing let-7 or the use of tocilizumab to block signal transduction between HBE cells and macrophages inhibited the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. M2 macrophage polarization was inhibited, and MMP9/12 release was reduced. Conclusion Our results indicate that CS decreased let-7c expression in HBE cells, and M2 AM polarization was dominant in COPD. In HBE cells, let-7c could inhibit M2 polarization of AMs through the IL-6/STAT3 pathway, providing potential diagnostic and therapeutic value for slowing COPD emphysema.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheming Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiyu Shen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Bian
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214023, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Tao Bian; Yan Wu, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214023, People’s Republic of China, Email ;
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24
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Abyadeh M, Yadav VK, Kaya A. Common Molecular Signatures Between Coronavirus Infection and Alzheimer's Disease Reveal Targets for Drug Development. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:995-1011. [PMID: 37638446 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive decline is a common consequence of COVID-19, and studies suggest a link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To understand the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the association between COVID-19 and AD development, and identify the potential genetic targets for pharmaceutical approaches to reduce the risk or delay the development of COVID-19-related neurological pathologies. METHODS We analyzed transcriptome datasets of 638 brain samples using a novel Robust Rank Aggregation method, followed by functional enrichment, protein-protein, hub genes, gene-miRNA, and gene-transcription factor (TF) interaction analyses to identify molecular markers altered in AD and COVID-19 infected brains. RESULTS Our analyses of frontal cortex from COVID-19 and AD patients identified commonly altered genes, miRNAs and TFs. Functional enrichment and hub gene analysis of these molecular changes revealed commonly altered pathways, including downregulation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, alongside upregulation of neuroinflammatory pathways. Furthermore, gene-miRNA and gene-TF network analyses provided potential up- and downstream regulators of identified pathways. CONCLUSION We found that downregulation of cAMP signaling pathway, taurine metabolisms, and upregulation of neuroinflammatory related pathways are commonly altered in AD and COVID-19 pathogenesis, and may make COVID-19 patients more susceptible to cognitive decline and AD. We also identified genetic targets, regulating these pathways that can be targeted pharmaceutically to reduce the risk or delay the development of COVID-19-related neurological pathologies and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Abyadeh
- Department of Biology, Virginia Common wealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Vijay K Yadav
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alaattin Kaya
- Department of Biology, Virginia Common wealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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25
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Que H, Hong W, Lan T, Zeng H, Chen L, Wan D, Bi Z, Ren W, Luo M, Yang J, He C, Zhong A, Wei X. Tripterin liposome relieves severe acute respiratory syndrome as a potent COVID-19 treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:399. [PMID: 36566328 PMCID: PMC9789731 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
For coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), 15-30% of patients are likely to develop COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are still few effective and well-understood therapies available. Novel variants and short-lasting immunity are posing challenges to vaccine efficacy, so finding antiviral and antiinflammatory treatments remains crucial. Here, tripterin (TP), a traditional Chinese medicine, was encapsulated into liposome (TP lipo) to investigate its antiviral and antiinflammatory effects in severe COVID-19. By using two severe COVID-19 models in human ACE2-transgenic (hACE2) mice, an analysis of TP lipo's effects on pulmonary immune responses was conducted. Pulmonary pathological alterations and viral burden were reduced by TP lipo treatment. TP lipo inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and hyperinflammation in infected cells and mice, two crucial events in severe COVID-19 pathophysiology, it is a promising drug candidate to treat SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Que
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiqi Hong
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianxia Lan
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Zeng
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Chen
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Wan
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenfei Bi
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyan Ren
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Luo
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyun Yang
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Cai He
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ailing Zhong
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiawei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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26
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Zeng F, Xu Y, Tang C, Yan Z, Wei C. Integrated bioinformatics and in silico approaches reveal the biological targets and molecular mechanisms of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D against COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1060095. [DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1060095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two major diseases threatening human health. The susceptibility of DM patients to COVID-19 and their worse outcomes have forced us to explore efficient routes to combat COVID-19/DM. As the most active form of Vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) has been shown a beneficial effect in the treatment of COVID-19/DM. However, the anti-COVID-19/DM mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D remain unclear. In this study, an approach combining network pharmacology and molecular docking was performed to reveal the potential hub target genes and underlying mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D in the treatment of COVID-19/DM. The hub targets and interaction pathways related to 1,25(OH)2D were identified by integrating the key 1,25(OH)2D-target-signaling pathway-COVID-19/DM networks. Fifteen hub targets of 1,25(OH)2D against COVID-19DM were determined, including EGFR, PIK3R1, PIK3CA, STAT3, MAPK1, ESR1, HSP90AA1, LCK, MTOR, IGF1, AR, NFKB1, PIK3CB, PTPN1, and MAPK14. An enrichment analysis of the hub targets further revealed that the effect of 1,25(OH)2D against COVID-19/DM involved multiple biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions and biological signaling pathways. Molecular docking disclosed that 1,25(OH)2D docked nicely with the hub target proteins, including EGFR, PIK3R1, and PIK3CA. These findings suggested that the potential mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D against COVID-19/DM may be related to multiple biological targets and biological signaling pathways.
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27
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Al‐Kuraishy HM, Al‐Gareeb AI, Mohammed AA, Alexiou A, Papadakis M, Batiha GE. The potential link between Covid-19 and multiple myeloma: A new saga. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:e701. [PMID: 36444620 PMCID: PMC9673426 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Covid-19 is considered a primary respiratory disease-causing viral pneumonia and, in severe cases, leads to acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition, though, extra-pulmonary manifestations of Covid-19 have been shown. Furthermore, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may coexist with several malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS This critical literature review aimed to find the potential association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and MM in Covid-19 patients with underlying MM. Narrative literature and databases search revealed that ARDS is developed in both MM and Covid-19 due to hypercalcemia and proteasome dysfunction. RESULTS Notably, the expression of angiogenic factors and glutamine deficiency could link Covid-19 severity and MM in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications. MM and Covid-19 share thrombosis as a typical complication; unlike thrombosis in Covid-19, which reflects disease severity, thrombosis does not reflect disease severity in MM. In both conditions, thromboprophylaxis is essential to prevent pulmonary thrombosis and other thromboembolic disorders. Moreover, Covid-19 may exacerbate the development of acute kidney injury and neurological complications in MM patients. CONCLUSION These findings highlighted that MM patients might be a risk group for Covid-19 severity due to underlying immunosuppression and most of those patients need specific management in the Covid-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayder M. Al‐Kuraishy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of MedicineALmustansiriyia UniversityBaghdadIraq
| | - Ali I. Al‐Gareeb
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of MedicineALmustansiriyia UniversityBaghdadIraq
| | - Ali A Mohammed
- The Chest Clinic, Barts Health NHS TrustWhipps Cross University HospitalLondonUK
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and EngineeringNovel Global Community Educational FoundationHebershamAustralia
- AFNP MedWienAustria
| | - Marios Papadakis
- Department of Surgery II, University Hospital Witten‐HerdeckeUniversity of Witten‐HerdeckeWuppertalGermany
| | - Gaber El‐Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineDamanhour UniversityDamanhourEgypt
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28
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Babalghith AO, Al-kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, De Waard M, Al-Hamash SM, Jean-Marc S, Negm WA, Batiha GES. The role of berberine in Covid-19: potential adjunct therapy. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:2003-2016. [PMID: 36183284 PMCID: PMC9526677 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is a global diastrophic disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Covid-19 leads to inflammatory, immunological, and oxidative changes, by which SARS-CoV-2 leads to endothelial dysfunction (ED), acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure (MOF). Despite evidence illustrating that some drugs and vaccines effectively manage and prevent Covid-19, complementary herbal medicines are urgently needed to control this pandemic disease. One of the most used herbal medicines is berberine (BBR), which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and immune-regulatory effects; thus, BBR may be a prospective candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review found that BBR has anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects with mitigation of associated inflammatory changes. BBR also reduces the risk of ALI/ARDS in Covid-19 patients by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory signaling pathways. In conclusion, BBR has potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects. Therefore, it can be utilized as a possible anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent. BBR inhibits the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 and attenuates the associated inflammatory disorders linked by the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Indeed, BBR can alleviate ALI/ARDS in patients with severe Covid-19. In this sense, clinical trials and prospective studies are suggested to illustrate the potential role of BBR in treating Covid-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad O. Babalghith
- Medical Genetics Department, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Hayder M. Al-kuraishy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali I. Al-Gareeb
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Michel De Waard
- Smartox Biotechnology, 6 rue des Platanes, 38120 Saint-Egrève, France
- L’institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, 44007 Nantes, France
- LabEx « Ion Channels, Science and Therapeutics», Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Sadiq Mohammed Al-Hamash
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Sabatier Jean-Marc
- Faculté des sciences médicales et paramédicales, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), CNRS UMR, 7051, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Walaa A. Negm
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511 Al Beheira Egypt
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Cavalcante LTDF, da Fonseca GC, Amado Leon LA, Salvio AL, Brustolini OJ, Gerber AL, Guimarães APDC, Marques CAB, Fernandes RA, Ramos Filho CHF, Kader RL, Pimentel Amaro M, da Costa Gonçalves JP, Vieira Alves-Leon S, Vasconcelos ATR. Buffy Coat Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Alterations in Host Cell Protein Synthesis and Cell Cycle in Severe COVID-19 Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13588. [PMID: 36362378 PMCID: PMC9659271 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome studies have reported the dysregulation of cell cycle-related genes and the global inhibition of host mRNA translation in COVID-19 cases. However, the key genes and cellular mechanisms that are most affected by the severe outcome of this disease remain unclear. For this work, the RNA-seq approach was used to study the differential expression in buffy coat cells of two groups of people infected with SARS-CoV-2: (a) Mild, with mild symptoms; and (b) SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), who were admitted to the intensive care unit with the severe COVID-19 outcome. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1009 up-regulated and 501 down-regulated genes in the SARS group, with 10% of both being composed of long non-coding RNA. Ribosome and cell cycle pathways were enriched among down-regulated genes. The most connected proteins among the differentially expressed genes involved transport dysregulation, proteasome degradation, interferon response, cytokinesis failure, and host translation inhibition. Furthermore, interactome analysis showed Fibrillarin to be one of the key genes affected by SARS-CoV-2. This protein interacts directly with the N protein and long non-coding RNAs affecting transcription, translation, and ribosomal processes. This work reveals a group of dysregulated processes, including translation and cell cycle, as key pathways altered in severe COVID-19 outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luciane Almeida Amado Leon
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Virologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Andreza Lemos Salvio
- Laboratório de Neurociências Translacional, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20211-040, Brazil
| | - Otávio José Brustolini
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Lehmkuhl Gerber
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula de Campos Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro 25651-076, Brazil
| | - Carla Augusta Barreto Marques
- Laboratório de Neurociências Translacional, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20211-040, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, Brazil
| | - Renan Amphilophio Fernandes
- Laboratório de Neurociências Translacional, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20211-040, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Lopes Kader
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, Brazil
| | - Marisa Pimentel Amaro
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, Brazil
| | - João Paulo da Costa Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Neurociências Translacional, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20211-040, Brazil
- Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon
- Laboratório de Neurociências Translacional, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20211-040, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-617, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza Ribeiro Vasconcelos
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro 25651-076, Brazil
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30
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Lin X, Nie H, Tang R, Wang P, Jin X, Jiang Q, Han F, Chen N, Li Y. Network analysis between neuron dysfunction and neuroimmune response based on neural single-cell transcriptome of COVID-19 patients. Comput Biol Med 2022; 150:106055. [PMID: 36137317 PMCID: PMC9462930 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.106055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite global vaccination efforts, COVID-19 breakthrough infections caused by variant virus continue to occur frequently, long-term sequelae of COVID-19 infection like neuronal dysfunction emerge as a noteworthy issue. Neuroimmune disorder induced by Inflammatory factor storm was considered as a possible reason, however, little was known about the functional factors affecting neuroimmune response to this virus. Here, using medial prefrontal cortex single cell data of COVID-19 patients, expression pattern analysis indicated that some immune-related pathway genes expressed specifically, including genes associated with T cell receptor, TNF signaling in microglia and Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and HIF-1 signaling pathway genes in astrocytes. Besides the well-known immune-related cell type microglia, we also observed immune-related factors like IL17D, TNFRSF1A and TLR4 expressed in Astrocytes. Based on the ligand-receptor relationship of immune-related factors, crosstalk landscape among cell clusters were analyzed. The findings indicated that astrocytes collaborated with microglia and affect excitatory neurons, participating in the process of immune response and neuronal dysfunction. Moreover, subset of astrocytes specific immune factors (hinged neuroimmune genes) were proved to correlate with Covid-19 infection and ventilator-associated pneumonia using multi-tissue RNA-seq and scRNA-seq data. Function characterization clarified that hinged neuroimmune genes were involved in activation of inflammation and hypoxia signaling pathways, which could lead to hyper-responses related neurological sequelae. Finally, a risk model was constructed and testified in RNA-seq and scRNA data of peripheral blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Huan Nie
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Ran Tang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Pingping Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Xiyun Jin
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Qinghua Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Fang Han
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China.
| | - Na Chen
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China; Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
| | - Yu Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150000, China.
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Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, Al-Maiahy TJ, Alexiou A, Mukerjee N, Batiha GES. Prostaglandins and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Covid-19. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2022:1-21. [PMID: 36098621 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2022.2122290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
In response to different viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2 infection, pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and bioactive lipids are released from infected and immune cells. One of the most critical bioactive lipids is prostaglandins (PGs) which favor perseverance of inflammation leading to chronic inflammation as PGs act as cytokine amplifiers. PGs trigger the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activate Th cells, recruit immune cells, and increase the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Therefore, PGs may induce acute and chronic inflammations in various inflammatory disorders and viral infections like SARS-CoV-2. PGs are mainly inhibited by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by blocking cyclooxygenase enzymes (COXs), which involve PG synthesis. NSAIDs reduce inflammation by selective or non-selective blocking activity of COX2 or COX1/2, respectively. In the Covid-19 era, there is a tremendous controversy regarding the use of NSAIDs in the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. As well, the possible role of PGs in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is not well-defined. Thus, the objective of the present study is to review the potential role of PGs and NSAIDs in Covid-19 in a narrative review regarding the preponderance of assorted views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayder M Al-Kuraishy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali I Al-Gareeb
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, ALmustansiriyia University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Thabat J Al-Maiahy
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, AlBeheira
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department Of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyah University, aghdad, Iraq
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, Australia
| | - Nobendu Mukerjee
- AFNP Med, Wien, Austria
- Department of Microbiology, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, West Bengal, India
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Health Sciences, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Heber-sham, Australia
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32
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Micro-Players of Great Significance-Host microRNA Signature in Viral Infections in Humans and Animals. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810536. [PMID: 36142450 PMCID: PMC9504570 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Over time, more and more is becoming known about micro-players of great significance. This is particularly the case for microRNAs (miRNAs; miR), which have been found to participate in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes in both humans and animals. One such process is viral infection in humans and animals, in which the host miRNAs—alone or in conjunction with the virus—interact on two levels: viruses may regulate the host’s miRNAs to evade its immune system, while the host miRNAs can play anti- or pro-viral roles. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to present the key miRNAs involved in viral infections in humans and animals. We summarize the data in the available literature, indicating that the signature miRNAs in human viral infections mainly include 12 miRNAs (i.e., miR-155, miR-223, miR-146a, miR-122, miR-125b, miR-132, miR-34a, miR -21, miR-16, miR-181 family, let-7 family, and miR-10a), while 10 miRNAs are commonly found in animals (i.e., miR-155, miR-223, miR-146a, miR-145, miR-21, miR-15a/miR-16 cluster, miR-181 family, let-7 family, and miR-122) in this context. Knowledge of which miRNAs are involved in different viral infections and the biological functions that they play can help in understanding the pathogenesis of viral diseases, facilitating the future development of therapeutic agents for both humans and animals.
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Ursolic acid and SARS-CoV-2 infection: a new horizon and perspective. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:1493-1501. [PMID: 35922738 PMCID: PMC9362167 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01038-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) has been identified as the source of a world coronavirus pandemic in 2019. Covid-19 is considered a main respiratory disease-causing viral pneumonia and, in severe cases, leads to acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although, extrapulmonary manifestations of Covid-19 like neurological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal have been confirmed. Exaggerated immune response and release of a high amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines may progress, causing a cytokine storm. Consequently, direct and indirect effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection can evolve into systemic complications due to the progression of hyper inflammation, oxidative stress and dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Therefore, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents could be efficient in alleviating these disorders. Ursolic acid has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects; it reduces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, improves anti-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In virtue of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, ursolic acid may minimize SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced complications. Also, by regulating RAS and inflammatory signaling pathways, ursolic acid might effectively reduce the development of ALI in ARDS in Covid-19. In this state, this perspective discusses how ursolic acid can mitigate hyper inflammation and oxidative stress in Covid-19.
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Sharif-zak M, Abbasi-Jorjandi M, Asadikaram G, Ghoreshi ZAS, Rezazadeh-Jabalbarzi M, Rashidinejad H. Influence of Disease Severity and Gender on HLA-C Methylation in COVID-19 Patients. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, TRANSACTIONS A: SCIENCE 2022; 46:1309-1316. [PMID: 35912367 PMCID: PMC9325662 DOI: 10.1007/s40995-022-01334-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
In the pathophysiology of COVID-19, immunomodulatory factors play a vital role. Viruses have epigenetic effects on various genes, particularly methylation. Explaining the changes in immunological factor methylation levels during viral infections requires substantial consideration. HLA-C is a crucial determinant of immune function and NK cell activity and is primarily implicated in viral infections. This research focused on studying HLA-C methylation in COVID-19 patients with different severity. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 470 patients (235 men and 235 women) with RT-qPCR-confirmed COVID-19 test and classified into moderate, severe, and critical groups based on WHO criteria. Also, one hundred (50 men and 50 women) healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for DNA extraction, and the methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method and gel electrophoresis were used to determine the methylation status of the HLA-C. Significant statistical differences in HLA-C methylation were observed among cases and controls and various stages of the disease. HLA-C methylation in men and women has decreased in all stages (p < 0.05). In comparison with control, HLA-C methylation in both genders were as follows: moderate (women: 41.0%, men: 52.33%), severe (women: 43.42%, men: 64.86%), critical (women: 42.33%, men: 60.07%), and total patients (women: 45.52%, men: 56.97%). Furthermore, the methylation levels in men were higher than in women in all groups (p < 0.05). Significantly, among all groups, the severe group of men participants showed the highest methylation percentage (p < 0.05). No significant differences were detected for different disease severity in the women group (p > 0.1). This study found that HLA-C methylation was significantly lower in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity. There were also significant differences in HLA-C methylation between men and women patients with different severity. Therefore, during managing viral infections, particularly COVID-19, it is critical to consider patient gender and disease severity.
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35
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Loh D, Reiter RJ. Melatonin: Regulation of Viral Phase Separation and Epitranscriptomics in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8122. [PMID: 35897696 PMCID: PMC9368024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The relentless, protracted evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus imposes tremendous pressure on herd immunity and demands versatile adaptations by the human host genome to counter transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic alterations associated with a wide range of short- and long-term manifestations during acute infection and post-acute recovery, respectively. To promote viral replication during active infection and viral persistence, the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein regulates host cell microenvironment including pH and ion concentrations to maintain a high oxidative environment that supports template switching, causing extensive mitochondrial damage and activation of pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling cascades. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial distress induce dynamic changes to both the host and viral RNA m6A methylome, and can trigger the derepression of long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE1), resulting in global hypomethylation, epigenetic changes, and genomic instability. The timely application of melatonin during early infection enhances host innate antiviral immune responses by preventing the formation of "viral factories" by nucleocapsid liquid-liquid phase separation that effectively blockades viral genome transcription and packaging, the disassembly of stress granules, and the sequestration of DEAD-box RNA helicases, including DDX3X, vital to immune signaling. Melatonin prevents membrane depolarization and protects cristae morphology to suppress glycolysis via antioxidant-dependent and -independent mechanisms. By restraining the derepression of LINE1 via multifaceted strategies, and maintaining the balance in m6A RNA modifications, melatonin could be the quintessential ancient molecule that significantly influences the outcome of the constant struggle between virus and host to gain transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic dominance over the host genome during acute infection and PASC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Loh
- Independent Researcher, Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA;
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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36
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Gene Networks of Hyperglycemia, Diabetic Complications, and Human Proteins Targeted by SARS-CoV-2: What Is the Molecular Basis for Comorbidity? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137247. [PMID: 35806251 PMCID: PMC9266766 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
People with diabetes are more likely to have severe COVID-19 compared to the general population. Moreover, diabetes and COVID-19 demonstrate a certain parallelism in the mechanisms and organ damage. In this work, we applied bioinformatics analysis of associative molecular networks to identify key molecules and pathophysiological processes that determine SARS-CoV-2-induced disorders in patients with diabetes. Using text-mining-based approaches and ANDSystem as a bioinformatics tool, we reconstructed and matched networks related to hyperglycemia, diabetic complications, insulin resistance, and beta cell dysfunction with networks of SARS-CoV-2-targeted proteins. The latter included SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors (ACE2 and DPP4), SARS-CoV-2 entry associated proteases (TMPRSS2, CTSB, and CTSL), and 332 human intracellular proteins interacting with SARS-CoV-2. A number of genes/proteins targeted by SARS-CoV-2 (ACE2, BRD2, COMT, CTSB, CTSL, DNMT1, DPP4, ERP44, F2RL1, GDF15, GPX1, HDAC2, HMOX1, HYOU1, IDE, LOX, NUTF2, PCNT, PLAT, RAB10, RHOA, SCARB1, and SELENOS) were found in the networks of vascular diabetic complications and insulin resistance. According to the Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, the defined molecules are involved in the response to hypoxia, reactive oxygen species metabolism, immune and inflammatory response, regulation of angiogenesis, platelet degranulation, and other processes. The results expand the understanding of the molecular basis of diabetes and COVID-19 comorbidity.
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Nicoletti ADS, Visacri MB, da Ronda CRDSC, Vasconcelos PEDNS, Quintanilha JCF, de Souza RN, Ventura DDS, Eguti A, Silva LFDS, Perroud Junior MW, Catharino RR, Reis LO, Dos Santos LA, Durán N, Fávaro WJ, Lancellotti M, da Costa JL, Moriel P, Pincinato EDC. Differentially expressed plasmatic microRNAs in Brazilian patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): preliminary results. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:6931-6943. [PMID: 35301654 PMCID: PMC8929466 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07338-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is known that host microRNAs (miRNAs) can be modulated to favor viral infection or to protect the host. Herein, we report preliminary results of a study aiming at identifying differentially expressed plasmatic miRNAs in Brazilian patients with COVID-19. Methods and results miRNAs were extracted from the plasma of eight patients with COVID-19 (four patients with mild COVID-19 and four patients with severe/critical COVID-19) and four healthy controls. Patients and controls were matched for sex and age. miRNA expression levels were detected using high-throughput sequencing. Differential miRNA expression and enrichment analyses were further evaluated. A total of 18 miRNAs were differentially expressed between patients with COVID-19 and controls. miR-4433b-5p, miR-6780b-3p, miR-6883-3p, miR-320b, miR-7111-3p, miR-4755-3p, miR-320c, and miR-6511a-3p were the most important miRNAs significantly involved in the PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, and STAT3 signaling pathways. Moreover, 42 miRNAs were differentially expressed between severe/critical and mild patients with COVID-19. miR-451a, miR-101-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-30d-5p, miR-25-3p, miR-342-3p, miR-30e-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-15b-5p, and miR-29c-3p were the most important miRNAs significantly involved in the Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κβ, and STAT3 signaling pathways. Conclusions If validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a larger number of participants, the miRNAs identified in this study might be used as possible biomarkers for the diagnosis and severity of COVID-19. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11033-022-07338-9.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carla Regina da Silva Correa da Ronda
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Cândido Portinari Street, 200, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz-Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP, 13083-871, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Adriana Eguti
- Hospital Estadual Sumaré Dr. Leandro Francheschini, Sumaré, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Mauricio Wesley Perroud Junior
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Hospital Estadual Sumaré Dr. Leandro Francheschini, Sumaré, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ramos Catharino
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Cândido Portinari Street, 200, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz-Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP, 13083-871, Brazil.,Innovare Biomarkers Laboratory, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Nelson Durán
- Laboratory of Urogenital Carcinogenesis and Immunotherapy, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Wagner José Fávaro
- Laboratory of Urogenital Carcinogenesis and Immunotherapy, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Lancellotti
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Cândido Portinari Street, 200, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz-Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP, 13083-871, Brazil
| | - José Luiz da Costa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Cândido Portinari Street, 200, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz-Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP, 13083-871, Brazil
| | - Patricia Moriel
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Cândido Portinari Street, 200, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz-Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP, 13083-871, Brazil.
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Upregulated Proteasome Subunits in COVID-19 Patients: A Link with Hypoxemia, Lymphopenia and Inflammation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030442. [PMID: 35327634 PMCID: PMC8946050 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe COVID-19 disease leads to hypoxemia, inflammation and lymphopenia. Viral infection induces cellular stress and causes the activation of the innate immune response. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is highly implicated in viral immune response regulation. The main function of the proteasome is protein degradation in its active form, which recognises and binds to ubiquitylated proteins. Some proteasome subunits have been reported to be upregulated under hypoxic and hyperinflammatory conditions. Here, we conducted a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients (n = 44) and age-and sex-matched controls (n = 20). In this study, we suggested that hypoxia could induce the overexpression of certain genes encoding for subunits from the α and β core of the 20S proteasome and from regulatory particles (19S and 11S) in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the gene expression of proteasome subunits was associated with lymphocyte count reduction and positively correlated with inflammatory molecular and clinical markers. Given the importance of the proteasome in maintaining cellular homeostasis, including the regulation of the apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways, these results provide a potential link between COVID-19 complications and proteasome gene expression.
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Sharif-Zak M, Abbasi-Jorjandi M, Asadikaram G, Ghoreshi ZAS, Rezazadeh-Jabalbarzi M, Afsharipur A, Rashidinejad H, Khajepour F, Jafarzadeh A, Arefinia N, Kheyrkhah A, Abolhassani M. CCR2 and DPP9 expression in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients: Influences of the disease severity and gender. Immunobiology 2022; 227:152184. [PMID: 35131543 PMCID: PMC8806394 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Hyper-inflammatory reactions play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the severe forms of COVID-19. However, clarification of the molecular basis of the inflammatory-related factors needs more consideration. The aim was to evaluate the gene expression of two fundamental molecules contributing to the induction of inflammatory like CCR2 and DPP9 in cells from peripheral blood samples from patients with various patterns of COVID-19. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 470 patients (235 male and 235 female) with RT-qPCR-confirmed COVID-19 test exhibiting moderate, severe, and critical symptoms based on WHO criteria. 100 healthy subjects (50 male and 50 female) were also enrolled in the study as a control group. The gene expression of DPP-9 and CCR-2 was assessed in the blood samples using real-time PCR method. Results The COVID-19 patients in severe stage expressed higher levels of CCR2 and DPP9 compared with healthy controls. In male and female patients, the levels of CCR2 and DDP9 expression significantly differed between moderate, severe, and critical patterns (p < 0.0001) as well as between each COVID-19 form and control group (p < 0.0001). The male patients with severe COVID-19 expressed greater levels of CCR2 and DPP-9 than female with same disease form. The female patients with moderate and critical COVID-19 expressed greater levels of CCR2 and DPP-9 than male patients with same disease stage. Conclusion We demonstrated that the expression of DPP-9 and CCR-2 was substantially increased in COVID-19 patients with different forms of disease. Considerable differences were also demonstrated between male and female with different patterns of disease. Therefore, we suggest to consider the gender of patients and disease severity for management of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Sharif-Zak
- Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Mojtaba Abbasi-Jorjandi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Asadikaram
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Zohreh-Al-Sadat Ghoreshi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mitra Rezazadeh-Jabalbarzi
- Clinical Research Development Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Alireza Afsharipur
- Clinical Research Development Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Rashidinejad
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fardin Khajepour
- Department of Medical Immunology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Medical Immunology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Nasir Arefinia
- Department of Medical Microbiology (Bacteriology & Virology), Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Aliasghar Kheyrkhah
- Clinical Research Development Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Moslem Abolhassani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Beheshtirouy S, Khani E, Khiali S, Entezari-Maleki T. Investigational antiviral drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Arch Virol 2022; 167:751-805. [PMID: 35138438 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05368-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), antiviral drugs are at the center of attention because of their critical role against severe acute respiratory disease syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In addition to designing new antivirals against SARS-COV-2, a drug repurposing strategy is a practical approach for treating COVID-19. A brief insight about antivirals would help clinicians to choose the best medication for the treatment of COVID-19. In this review, we discuss both novel and repurposed investigational antivirals, focusing on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samineh Beheshtirouy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elnaz Khani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sajad Khiali
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Taher Entezari-Maleki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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The roles of Eph receptors, neuropilin-1, P2X7, and CD147 in COVID-19-associated neurodegenerative diseases: inflammasome and JaK inhibitors as potential promising therapies. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:10. [PMID: 35109786 PMCID: PMC8809072 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00311-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread worldwide, and finding a safe therapeutic strategy and effective vaccine is critical to overcoming severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, elucidation of pathogenesis mechanisms, especially entry routes of SARS-CoV-2 may help propose antiviral drugs and novel vaccines. Several receptors have been demonstrated for the interaction of spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 with host cells, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), ephrin ligands and Eph receptors, neuropilin 1 (NRP-1), P2X7, and CD147. The expression of these entry receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) may make the CNS prone to SARS-CoV-2 invasion, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. The present review provides potential pathological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the CNS, including entry receptors and cytokines involved in neuroinflammatory conditions. Moreover, it explains several neurodegenerative disorders associated with COVID-19. Finally, we suggest inflammasome and JaK inhibitors as potential therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Chen JT, Ostermann M. Review of Anti-inflammatory and Anti-viral therapeutics for hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Crit Care Clin 2022; 38:587-600. [PMID: 35667745 PMCID: PMC8841241 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Bosch-Barrera J, Roqué A, Teixidor E, Carmona-Garcia MC, Arbusà A, Brunet J, Martin-Castillo B, Cuyàs E, Verdura S, Menendez JA. Clinical Management of COVID-19 in Cancer Patients with the STAT3 Inhibitor Silibinin. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 15:19. [PMID: 35056076 PMCID: PMC8778965 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pathophysiology is caused by a cascade of respiratory and multiorgan failures arising, at least in part, from the SARS-CoV-2-driven dysregulation of the master transcriptional factor STAT3. Pharmacological correction of STAT3 over-stimulation, which is at the root of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and coagulopathy/thrombosis events, should be considered for treatment of severe COVID-19. In this perspective, we first review the current body of knowledge on the role of STAT3 in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. We then exemplify the potential clinical value of treating COVID-19 disease with STAT3 inhibitors by presenting the outcomes of two hospitalized patients with active cancer and COVID-19 receiving oral Legalon®-a nutraceutical containing the naturally occurring STAT3 inhibitor silibinin. Both patients, which were recruited to the clinical trial SIL-COVID19 (EudraCT number: 2020-001794-77) had SARS-CoV-2 bilateral interstitial pneumonia and a high COVID-GRAM score, and showed systemic proinflammatory responses in terms of lymphocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. Both patients were predicted to be at high risk of critical COVID-19 illness in terms of intensive care unit admission, invasive ventilation, or death. In addition to physician's choice of best available therapy or supportive care, patients received 1050 mg/day Legalon® for 10 days without side-effects. Silibinin-treated cancer/COVID-19+ patients required only minimal oxygen support (2-4 L/min) during the episode, exhibited a sharp decline of the STAT3-regulated C-reactive protein, and demonstrated complete resolution of the pulmonary lesions. These findings might inspire future research to advance our knowledge and improve silibinin-based clinical interventions aimed to target STAT3-driven COVID-19 pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Bosch-Barrera
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
| | - Ariadna Roqué
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Eduard Teixidor
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | | | - Aina Arbusà
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Joan Brunet
- Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital of Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Begoña Martin-Castillo
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Unit of Clinical Research, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Sara Verdura
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190 Salt, Spain
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, 17007 Girona, Spain
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Emadi-Baygi M, Ehsanifard M, Afrashtehpour N, Norouzi M, Joz-Abbasalian Z. Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a System-Level Infectious Disease With Distinct Sex Disparities. Front Immunol 2021; 12:778913. [PMID: 34912345 PMCID: PMC8667725 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.778913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The current global pandemic of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19, has infected millions of people and continues to pose a threat to many more. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an important player of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) expressed on the surface of the lung, heart, kidney, neurons, and endothelial cells, which mediates SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cells. The cytokine storms of COVID-19 arise from the large recruitment of immune cells because of the dis-synchronized hyperactive immune system, lead to many abnormalities including hyper-inflammation, endotheliopathy, and hypercoagulability that produce multi-organ dysfunction and increased the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis resulting in more severe illness and mortality. We discuss the aberrated interconnectedness and forthcoming crosstalks between immunity, the endothelium, and coagulation, as well as how sex disparities affect the severity and outcome of COVID-19 and harm men especially. Further, our conceptual framework may help to explain why persistent symptoms, such as reduced physical fitness and fatigue during long COVID, may be rooted in the clotting system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Modjtaba Emadi-Baygi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Ehsanifard
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Najmeh Afrashtehpour
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Norouzi
- Department of Research and Development, Erythrogen Medical Genetics Lab, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zahra Joz-Abbasalian
- Clinical Laboratory, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Artificial intelligence for the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents for emerging infectious diseases. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:1099-1107. [PMID: 34748992 PMCID: PMC8570449 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The search for effective drugs to treat new and existing diseases is a laborious one requiring a large investment of capital, resources, and time. The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a painful reminder of the lack of development of new antimicrobial agents to treat emerging infectious diseases. Artificial intelligence (AI) and other in silico techniques can drive a more efficient, cost-friendly approach to drug discovery by helping move potential candidates with better clinical tolerance forward in the pipeline. Several research teams have developed successful AI platforms for hit identification, lead generation, and lead optimization. In this review, we investigate the technologies at the forefront of spearheading an AI revolution in drug discovery and pharmaceutical sciences.
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Kgatle MM, Lawal IO, Mashabela G, Boshomane TMG, Koatale PC, Mahasha PW, Ndlovu H, Vorster M, Rodrigues HG, Zeevaart JR, Gordon S, Moura-Alves P, Sathekge MM. COVID-19 Is a Multi-Organ Aggressor: Epigenetic and Clinical Marks. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752380. [PMID: 34691068 PMCID: PMC8531724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting from a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, may be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Several viruses hijack the host genome machinery for their own advantage and survival, and similar phenomena might occur upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Severe cases of COVID-19 may be driven by metabolic and epigenetic driven mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone/chromatin alterations. These epigenetic phenomena may respond to enhanced viral replication and mediate persistent long-term infection and clinical phenotypes associated with severe COVID-19 cases and fatalities. Understanding the epigenetic events involved, and their clinical significance, may provide novel insights valuable for the therapeutic control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review highlights different epigenetic marks potentially associated with COVID-19 development, clinical manifestation, and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mankgopo Magdeline Kgatle
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ismaheel Opeyemi Lawal
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gabriel Mashabela
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tebatso Moshoeu Gillian Boshomane
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear and Oncology Division, AXIM Medical (Pty), Midrand
| | - Palesa Caroline Koatale
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Phetole Walter Mahasha
- Precision Medicine and SAMRC Genomic Centre, Grants, Innovation, and Product Development (GIPD) Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Honest Ndlovu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mariza Vorster
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Hosana Gomes Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Nutrients and Tissue Repair, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jan Rijn Zeevaart
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Radiochemistry and NuMeRI PreClinical Imaging Facility, Mahikeng, South Africa
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Siamon Gordon
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro Moura-Alves
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Machaba Sathekge
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria & Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Kircheis R. Coagulopathies after Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 May Be Derived from a Combined Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Adenovirus Vector-Triggered Signaling Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10791. [PMID: 34639132 PMCID: PMC8509779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in a global pandemic with worldwide 6-digit infection rates and thousands of death tolls daily. Enormous efforts are undertaken to achieve high coverage of immunization to reach herd immunity in order to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on mRNA, viral vectors, or inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus have been approved and are being applied worldwide. However, the recent increased numbers of normally very rare types of thromboses associated with thrombocytopenia have been reported, particularly in the context of the adenoviral vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 from Astra Zeneca. The statistical prevalence of these side effects seems to correlate with this particular vaccine type, i.e., adenoviral vector-based vaccines, but the exact molecular mechanisms are still not clear. The present review summarizes current data and hypotheses for molecular and cellular mechanisms into one integrated hypothesis indicating that coagulopathies, including thromboses, thrombocytopenia, and other related side effects, are correlated to an interplay of the two components in the vaccine, i.e., the spike antigen and the adenoviral vector, with the innate and immune systems, which under certain circumstances can imitate the picture of a limited COVID-19 pathological picture.
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Jafarzadeh A, Naseri A, Shojaie L, Nemati M, Jafarzadeh S, Bannazadeh Baghi H, Hamblin MR, Akhlagh SA, Mirzaei H. MicroRNA-155 and antiviral immune responses. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108188. [PMID: 34626873 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The microRNA, miR-155 regulates both adaptive and innate immune responses. In viral infections, miR-155 can affect both innate immunity (interferon response, natural killer cell activity, and macrophage polarization) and adaptive immunity (including generation of anti-viral antibodies, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, Th17, Th2, Th1, Tfh and Treg cells). In many viral infections, the proper and timely regulation of miR-155 expression is critical for the induction of an effective anti-virus immune response and viral clearance without any harmful immunopathologic consequences. MiR-155 may also exert pro-viral effects, mainly through the inhibition of the anti-viral interferon response. Thus, dysregulated expression of miR-155 can result in virus persistence and disruption of the normal response to viral infections. This review provides a thorough discussion of the role of miR-155 in immune responses and immunopathologic reactions during viral infections, and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
| | - Alma Naseri
- Department of Immunology, Islamic Azadi university of Zahedan, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Layla Shojaie
- Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maryam Nemati
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran; Department of Hematology and Laboratory Sciences, School of Para-Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sara Jafarzadeh
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | | | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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Jafarzadeh A, Jafarzadeh S, Nemati M. Therapeutic potential of ginger against COVID-19: Is there enough evidence? JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICAL SCIENCES 2021. [PMCID: PMC8492833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcms.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to the respiratory system, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strikes other systems, including the digestive, circulatory, urogenital, and even the central nervous system, as its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is expressed in various organs, such as lungs, intestine, heart, esophagus, kidneys, bladder, testis, liver, and brain. Different mechanisms, in particular, massive virus replication, extensive apoptosis and necrosis of the lung-related epithelial and endothelial cells, vascular leakage, hyper-inflammatory responses, overproduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokine storm, oxidative stress, downregulation of ACE2, and impairment of the renin-angiotensin system contribute to the COVID-19 pathogenesis. Currently, COVID-19 is a global pandemic with no specific anti-viral treatment. The favorable capabilities of the ginger were indicated in patients suffering from osteoarthritis, neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, respiratory distress, liver diseases and primary dysmenorrheal. Ginger or its compounds exhibited strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative influences in numerous animal models. This review provides evidence regarding the potential effects of ginger against SARS-CoV-2 infection and highlights its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory impacts in an attempt to consider this plant as an alternative therapeutic agent for COVID-19 treatment.
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Dhall A, Patiyal S, Sharma N, Devi NL, Raghava GPS. Computer-aided prediction of inhibitors against STAT3 for managing COVID-19 associated cytokine storm. Comput Biol Med 2021; 137:104780. [PMID: 34450382 PMCID: PMC8378993 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background Proinflammatory cytokines are correlated with the severity of disease in patients with COVID-19. IL6-mediated activation of STAT3 proliferates proinflammatory responses that lead to cytokine storm promotion. Thus, STAT3 inhibitors may play a crucial role in managing the COVID-19 pathogenesis. The present study discusses a method for predicting inhibitors against the STAT3 signaling pathway. Method The main dataset comprises 1565 STAT3 inhibitors and 1671 non-inhibitors used for training, testing, and evaluation of models. A number of machine learning classifiers have been implemented to develop the models. Results The outcomes of the data analysis show that rings and aromatic groups are significantly abundant in STAT3 inhibitors compared to non-inhibitors. First, we developed models using 2-D and 3-D chemical descriptors and achieved a maximum AUC of 0.84 and 0.73, respectively. Second, fingerprints are used to build predictive models and achieved 0.86 AUC with an accuracy of 78.70% on the validation dataset. Finally, models were developed using hybrid descriptors, which achieved a maximum of 0.87 AUC with 78.55% accuracy on the validation dataset. Conclusion We used the best model to identify STAT3 inhibitors in FDA-approved drugs and found few drugs (e.g., Tamoxifen and Perindopril) to manage the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. A webserver “STAT3In” (https://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/stat3in/) has been developed to predict and design STAT3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Dhall
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi, 110020, India.
| | - Sumeet Patiyal
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi, 110020, India.
| | - Neelam Sharma
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi, 110020, India.
| | - Naorem Leimarembi Devi
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi, 110020, India.
| | - Gajendra P S Raghava
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Okhla Phase 3, New Delhi, 110020, India.
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