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Metzdorf K, Jacobsen H, Kim Y, Teixeira Alves LG, Kulkarni U, Brdovčak MC, Materljan J, Eschke K, Chaudhry MZ, Hoffmann M, Bertoglio F, Ruschig M, Hust M, Šustić M, Krmpotić A, Jonjić S, Widera M, Ciesek S, Pöhlmann S, Landthaler M, Čičin-Šain L. A single-dose MCMV-based vaccine elicits long-lasting immune protection in mice against distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383086. [PMID: 39119342 PMCID: PMC11306140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Current vaccines against COVID-19 elicit immune responses that are overall strong but wane rapidly. As a consequence, the necessary booster shots have contributed to vaccine fatigue. Hence, vaccines that would provide lasting protection against COVID-19 are needed, but are still unavailable. Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) elicit lasting and uniquely strong immune responses. Used as vaccine vectors, they may be attractive tools that obviate the need for boosters. Therefore, we tested the murine CMV (MCMV) as a vaccine vector against COVID-19 in relevant preclinical models of immunization and challenge. We have previously developed a recombinant MCMV vaccine vector expressing the spike protein of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (MCMVS). In this study, we show that the MCMVS elicits a robust and lasting protection in young and aged mice. Notably, spike-specific humoral and cellular immunity was not only maintained but also even increased over a period of at least 6 months. During that time, antibody avidity continuously increased and expanded in breadth, resulting in neutralization of genetically distant variants, like Omicron BA.1. A single dose of MCMVS conferred rapid virus clearance upon challenge. Moreover, MCMVS vaccination controlled two variants of concern (VOCs), the Beta (B.1.135) and the Omicron (BA.1) variants. Thus, CMV vectors provide unique advantages over other vaccine technologies, eliciting broadly reactive and long-lasting immune responses against COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- Mice
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Muromegalovirus/immunology
- Muromegalovirus/genetics
- Female
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Humans
- Genetic Vectors
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunity, Humoral
- Disease Models, Animal
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Metzdorf
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Henning Jacobsen
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yeonsu Kim
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Luiz Gustavo Teixeira Alves
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Upasana Kulkarni
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Jelena Materljan
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Kathrin Eschke
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - M. Zeeshan Chaudhry
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Federico Bertoglio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Ruschig
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hust
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marko Šustić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Astrid Krmpotić
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Center for Proteomics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Marek Widera
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sandra Ciesek
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Psychology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luka Čičin-Šain
- Department of Viral Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, a Joint Venture of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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2
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Kanth SM, Huapaya JA, Gairhe S, Wang H, Tian X, Demirkale CY, Hou C, Ma J, Kuhns DB, Fink DL, Malayeri A, Turkbey E, Harmon SA, Chen MY, Regenold D, Lynch NF, Ramelli S, Li W, Krack J, Kuruppu J, Lionakis MS, Strich JR, Davey R, Childs R, Chertow DS, Kovacs JA, Parizi PT, Suffredini AF. Longitudinal analysis of the lung proteome reveals persistent repair months after mild to moderate COVID-19. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101642. [PMID: 38981485 PMCID: PMC11293333 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101642] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
In order to assess homeostatic mechanisms in the lung after COVID-19, changes in the protein signature of bronchoalveolar lavage from 45 patients with mild to moderate disease at three phases (acute, recovery, and convalescent) are evaluated over a year. During the acute phase, inflamed and uninflamed phenotypes are characterized by the expression of tissue repair and host defense response molecules. With recovery, inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators decline and clinical symptoms abate. However, at 9 months, quantified radiographic abnormalities resolve in the majority of patients, and yet compared to healthy persons, all showed ongoing activation of cellular repair processes and depression of the renin-kallikrein-kinin, coagulation, and complement systems. This dissociation of prolonged reparative processes from symptom and radiographic resolution suggests that occult ongoing disruption of the lung proteome is underrecognized and may be relevant to recovery from other serious viral pneumonias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya M Kanth
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Julio A Huapaya
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Salina Gairhe
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Honghui Wang
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xin Tian
- Office of Biostatistics Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cumhur Y Demirkale
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chunyan Hou
- Mass Spectrometry and Analytical Pharmacology Shared Resource, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Junfeng Ma
- Mass Spectrometry and Analytical Pharmacology Shared Resource, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Douglas B Kuhns
- Neutrophil Monitoring Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Danielle L Fink
- Neutrophil Monitoring Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Ashkan Malayeri
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center (CC), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Evrim Turkbey
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center (CC), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stephanie A Harmon
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marcus Y Chen
- Cardiovascular Branch, National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David Regenold
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicolas F Lynch
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sabrina Ramelli
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Willy Li
- Pharmacy Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janell Krack
- Pharmacy Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janaki Kuruppu
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Strich
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard Davey
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard Childs
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel S Chertow
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joseph A Kovacs
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Parizad Torabi- Parizi
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anthony F Suffredini
- Critical Care Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Xie HG, Jiang LP, Tai T, Ji JZ, Mi QY. The Complement System and C4b-Binding Protein: A Focus on the Promise of C4BPα as a Biomarker to Predict Clopidogrel Resistance. Mol Diagn Ther 2024; 28:189-199. [PMID: 38261250 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00691-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The complement system plays a dual role in the body, either as a first-line defense barrier when balanced between activation and inhibition or as a potential driver of complement-associated injury or diseases when unbalanced or over-activated. C4b-binding protein (C4BP) was the first circulating complement regulatory protein identified and it functions as an important complement inhibitor. C4BP can suppress the over-activation of complement components and prevent the complement system from attacking the host cells through the binding of complement cleavage products C4b and C3b, working in concert as a cofactor for factor I in the degradation of C4b and C3b, and consequently preventing or reducing the assembly of C3 convertase and C5 convertase, respectively. C4BP, particularly C4BP α-chain (C4BPα), exerts its unique inhibitory effects on complement activation and opsonization, systemic inflammation, and platelet activation and aggregation. It has long been acknowledged that crosstalk or interplay exists between the complement system and platelets. Our unpublished preliminary data suggest that circulating C4BPα exerts its antiplatelet effects through inhibition of both complement activity levels and complement-induced platelet reactivity. Plasma C4BPα levels appear to be significantly higher in patients sensitive to, rather than resistant to, clopidogrel, and we suggest that a plasma C4BPα measurement could be used to predict clopidogrel resistance in the clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Guang Xie
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China.
| | - Li-Ping Jiang
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Ting Tai
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Jin-Zi Ji
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
| | - Qiong-Yu Mi
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, 210006, China
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Meuleman MS, Duval A, Grunenwald A, Rezola Artero M, Dermani M, Peliconi J, Revel M, Vieira-Martins P, Courbebaisse M, Parfait B, Lebeaux D, Friedlander G, Roumenina L, Chauvet S, Frémeaux-Bacchi V, Dragon-Durey MA. Usefulness and analytical performances of complement multiplex assay for measuring complement biomarkers in plasma. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 554:117750. [PMID: 38176523 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117750] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The complement system is involved in numerous diseases, through diverse mechanisms and degree of activation. With the emergence of complement targeting therapeutic, simple and accessible tools to evaluate the extent of complement activation are strongly needed. METHODS We evaluated two multiplex panels, measuring complement activation fragments (C4a, C3a, C5a, Bb, Ba, sC5b9) and intact components or regulators (C1q, C2, C3, C4, C5, FD, FP, FH, FI). The specificity of each measurement was assessed by using complement proteins depleted sera and plasma collected from patients with complement deficiencies. Normal values distribution was estimated using 124 plasma samples from healthy donors and complement activation profile was assessed in plasma collected from 31 patients with various complement-mediated disorders. RESULTS We observed good inter-assay variation. All tested protein deficiencies were accurately detected. We established assay-specific reference values for each analyte. Except for C3, C4 and C4a, the majority of the measurements were in good agreement with references methods or published data. CONCLUSION Our study substantiates the utility of the Complement Multiplex assay as a tool for measuring complement activation and deficiencies. Quantifying complement cleavage fragments in patients exhibiting classical or alternative pathway activation allowed evaluating the activation state of the whole cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Sophie Meuleman
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France; Laboratory of Immunology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Anna Duval
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France; Department of Nephrology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Grunenwald
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France; Department of Nephrology, Poissy Intercommunal Hospital, Poissy, France
| | - Mikel Rezola Artero
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France
| | - Mohamed Dermani
- Laboratory of Immunology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Julie Peliconi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France
| | - Margot Revel
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France
| | - Paula Vieira-Martins
- Laboratory of Immunology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Marie Courbebaisse
- Paris Cité University, Physiology Department, European Georges-Pompidou Hospital, APHP, INSERM U1151, Paris, France
| | - Béatrice Parfait
- Centre de Ressources Biologiques - site Cochin, Fédération des CRB/PRB, DMU BioPhyGen, AP-HP.Centre-Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - David Lebeaux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, 75015 Paris, France; Service de Microbiologie, Unité Mobile d'Infectiologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Lubka Roumenina
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Chauvet
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France; Paris Cité University, Paris, France; Department of Nephrology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Véronique Frémeaux-Bacchi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France; Laboratory of Immunology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Agnès Dragon-Durey
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Inflammation, Complement and Cancer Team, Paris, France; Laboratory of Immunology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, APHP, Paris, France; Paris Cité University, Paris, France.
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Hussain H, Paidas MJ, Rajalakshmi R, Fadel A, Ali M, Chen P, Jayakumar AR. Dermatologic Changes in Experimental Model of Long COVID. Microorganisms 2024; 12:272. [PMID: 38399677 PMCID: PMC10892887 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020272] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, declared in early 2020, has left an indelible mark on global health, with over 7.0 million deaths and persistent challenges. While the pharmaceutical industry raced to develop vaccines, the emergence of mutant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains continues to pose a significant threat. Beyond the immediate concerns, the long-term health repercussions of COVID-19 survivors are garnering attention, particularly due to documented cases of cardiovascular issues, liver dysfunction, pulmonary complications, kidney impairments, and notable neurocognitive deficits. Recent studies have delved into the pathophysiological changes in various organs following post-acute infection with murine hepatitis virus-1 (MHV-1), a coronavirus, in mice. One aspect that stands out is the impact on the skin, a previously underexplored facet of long-term COVID-19 effects. The research reveals significant cutaneous findings during both the acute and long-term phases post-MHV-1 infection, mirroring certain alterations observed in humans post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the acute stages, mice exhibited destruction of the epidermal layer, increased hair follicles, extensive collagen deposition in the dermal layer, and hyperplasticity of sebaceous glands. Moreover, the thinning of the panniculus carnosus and adventitial layer was noted, consistent with human studies. A long-term investigation revealed the absence of hair follicles, destruction of adipose tissues, and further damage to the epidermal layer. Remarkably, treatment with a synthetic peptide, SPIKENET (SPK), designed to prevent Spike glycoprotein-1 binding with host receptors and elicit a potent anti-inflammatory response, showed protection against MHV-1 infection. Precisely, SPK treatment restored hair follicle loss in MHV-1 infection, re-architected the epidermal and dermal layers, and successfully overhauled fatty tissue destruction. These promising findings underscore the potential of SPK as a therapeutic intervention to prevent long-term skin alterations initiated by SARS-CoV-2, providing a glimmer of hope in the battle against the lingering effects of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Hussain
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.H.); (R.R.)
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL 33143, USA
| | - Michael J. Paidas
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.H.); (R.R.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ramamoorthy Rajalakshmi
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.H.); (R.R.)
| | - Aya Fadel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ocean University Medical Center—Hackensack Meridian Health, Brick Township, NJ 08724, USA;
| | - Misha Ali
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Pingping Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Arumugam R. Jayakumar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (H.H.); (R.R.)
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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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Hulscher N, Procter BC, Wynn C, McCullough PA. Clinical Approach to Post-acute Sequelae After COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination. Cureus 2023; 15:e49204. [PMID: 38024037 PMCID: PMC10663976 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been found to exhibit pathogenic characteristics and be a possible cause of post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines utilize a modified, stabilized prefusion spike protein that may share similar toxic effects with its viral counterpart. The aim of this study is to investigate possible mechanisms of harm to biological systems from SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and vaccine-encoded spike protein and to propose possible mitigation strategies. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and 'grey literature' to find studies that (1) investigated the effects of the spike protein on biological systems, (2) helped differentiate between viral and vaccine-generated spike proteins, and (3) identified possible spike protein detoxification protocols and compounds that had signals of benefit and acceptable safety profiles. We found abundant evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may cause damage in the cardiovascular, hematological, neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and immunological systems. Viral and vaccine-encoded spike proteins have been shown to play a direct role in cardiovascular and thrombotic injuries from both SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination. Detection of spike protein for at least 6-15 months after vaccination and infection in those with post-acute sequelae indicates spike protein as a possible primary contributing factor to long COVID. We rationalized that these findings give support to the potential benefit of spike protein detoxification protocols in those with long-term post-infection and/or vaccine-induced complications. We propose a base spike detoxification protocol, composed of oral nattokinase, bromelain, and curcumin. This approach holds immense promise as a base of clinical care, upon which additional therapeutic agents are applied with the goal of aiding in the resolution of post-acute sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination. Large-scale, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are warranted in order to determine the relative risks and benefits of the base spike detoxification protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Hulscher
- Epidemiology, Unversity of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA
| | | | - Cade Wynn
- Family Medicine, McKinney Family Medicine, McKinney, USA
| | - Peter A McCullough
- Internal Medicine, Cardiology, McKinney Family Medicine, McKinney, USA
- Cardiology, Epidemiology, and Public Health, McCullough Foundation, Dallas, USA
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