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Keturakis V, Narauskaitė D, Balion Z, Gečys D, Kulkovienė G, Kairytė M, Žukauskaitė I, Benetis R, Stankevičius E, Jekabsone A. The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein RBD-Epitope on Immunometabolic State and Functional Performance of Cultured Primary Cardiomyocytes Subjected to Hypoxia and Reoxygenation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16554. [PMID: 38068877 PMCID: PMC10705973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316554] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardio complications such as arrhythmias and myocardial damage are common in COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the cardiovascular system primarily via the ACE2 receptor. Cardiomyocyte damage in SARS-CoV-2 infection may stem from inflammation, hypoxia-reoxygenation injury, and direct toxicity; however, the precise mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we simulated hypoxia-reoxygenation conditions commonly seen in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and studied the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD-epitope on primary rat cardiomyocytes to gain insight into the potential mechanisms underlying COVID-19-related cardiac complications. Cell metabolic activity was evaluated with PrestoBlueTM. Gene expression of proinflammatory markers was measured by qRT-PCR and their secretion was quantified by Luminex assay. Cardiomyocyte contractility was analysed using the Myocyter plugin of ImageJ. Mitochondrial respiration was determined through Seahorse Mito Stress Test. In hypoxia-reoxygenation conditions, treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD-epitope reduced the metabolic activity of primary cardiomyocytes, upregulated Il1β and Cxcl1 expression, and elevated GM-CSF and CCL2 cytokines secretion. Contraction time increased, while amplitude and beating frequency decreased. Acute treatment with a virus RBD-epitope inhibited mitochondrial respiration and lowered ATP production. Under ischaemia-reperfusion, the SARS-CoV-2 RBD-epitope induces cardiomyocyte injury linked to impaired mitochondrial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vytenis Keturakis
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
- Department of Heart, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medicine Faculty, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Deimantė Narauskaitė
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
| | - Zbigniev Balion
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
| | - Dovydas Gečys
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50166 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Gabrielė Kulkovienė
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50166 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Milda Kairytė
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
| | - Ineta Žukauskaitė
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
| | - Rimantas Benetis
- Department of Heart, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Medicine Faculty, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50103 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Edgaras Stankevičius
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
- Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Aistė Jekabsone
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.K.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50166 Kaunas, Lithuania
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Tornesello AL, Botti C, Micillo A, Labonia F, Arpino S, Isgrò MA, Meola S, Russo L, Cavalcanti E, Sale S, Nicastro C, Atripaldi L, Starita N, Cerasuolo A, Reimer U, Holenya P, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM, Tornesello ML. Immune profiling of SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in asymptomatic and symptomatic pediatric and adult patients. J Transl Med 2023; 21:123. [PMID: 36788606 PMCID: PMC9927035 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03963-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has unpredictable manifestations of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and variable clinical course with some patients being asymptomatic whereas others experiencing severe respiratory distress, or even death. We aimed to evaluate the immunoglobulin G (IgG) response towards linear peptides on a peptide array containing sequences from SARS-CoV-2, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS) and common-cold coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 antigens, in order to identify immunological indicators of disease outcome in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. METHODS We included in the study 79 subjects, comprising 19 pediatric and 30 adult SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with increasing disease severity, from mild to critical illness, and 30 uninfected subjects who were vaccinated with one dose of SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. Serum samples were analyzed by a peptide microarray containing 5828 overlapping 15-mer synthetic peptides corresponding to the full SARS-CoV-2 proteome and selected linear epitopes of spike (S), envelope (E) and membrane (M) glycoproteins as well as nucleoprotein (N) of MERS, SARS and coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 (isolates 1, 2 and 5). RESULTS All patients exhibited high IgG reactivity against the central region and C-terminus peptides of both SARS-CoV-2 N and S proteins. Setting the threshold value for serum reactivity above 25,000 units, 100% and 81% of patients with severe disease, 36% and 29% of subjects with mild symptoms, and 8% and 17% of children younger than 8-years reacted against N and S proteins, respectively. Overall, the total number of peptides in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome targeted by serum samples was much higher in children compared to adults. Notably, we revealed a differential antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 peptides of M protein between adults, mainly reacting against the C-terminus epitopes, and children, who were highly responsive to the N-terminus of M protein. In addition, IgG signals against NS7B, NS8 and ORF10 peptides were found elevated mainly among adults with mild (63%) symptoms. Antibodies towards S and N proteins of other coronaviruses (MERS, 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1) were detected in all groups without a significant correlation with SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our results showed that antibodies elicited by specific linear epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 proteome are age dependent and related to COVID-19 clinical severity. Cross-reaction of antibodies to epitopes of other human coronaviruses was evident in all patients with distinct profiles between children and adult patients. Several SARS-CoV-2 peptides identified in this study are of particular interest for the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests to predict the clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lucia Tornesello
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Chiara Botti
- grid.415247.10000 0004 1756 8081Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alberto Micillo
- grid.415247.10000 0004 1756 8081Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, 80129 Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Labonia
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Laboratory Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Sergio Arpino
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Laboratory Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Isgrò
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Laboratory Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Serena Meola
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Laboratory Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Laboratory Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ernesta Cavalcanti
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Laboratory Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Sale
- UOC Biochimica Chimica, AORN Ospedali dei Colli P.O. Monaldi, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicastro
- UOC Biochimica Chimica, AORN Ospedali dei Colli P.O. Monaldi, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Atripaldi
- UOC Biochimica Chimica, AORN Ospedali dei Colli P.O. Monaldi, Naples, Italy
| | - Noemy Starita
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Cerasuolo
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ulf Reimer
- grid.435562.3JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pavlo Holenya
- grid.435562.3JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- grid.508451.d0000 0004 1760 8805Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS “Fondazione G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Rak A, Gorbunov N, Kostevich V, Sokolov A, Prokopenko P, Rudenko L, Isakova-Sivak I. Assessment of Immunogenic and Antigenic Properties of Recombinant Nucleocapsid Proteins of Five SARS-CoV-2 Variants in a Mouse Model. Viruses 2023; 15:230. [PMID: 36680269 PMCID: PMC9861333 DOI: 10.3390/v15010230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 cases caused by new variants of highly mutable SARS-CoV-2 continue to be identified worldwide. Effective control of the spread of new variants can be achieved through targeting of conserved viral epitopes. In this regard, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein, which is much more conserved than the evolutionarily influenced spike protein (S), is a suitable antigen. The recombinant N protein can be considered not only as a screening antigen but also as a basis for the development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines, but little is known about induction of antibodies against the N protein via different SARS-CoV-2 variants. In addition, it is important to understand how antibodies produced against the antigen of one variant can react with the N proteins of other variants. Here, we used recombinant N proteins from five SARS-CoV-2 strains to investigate their immunogenicity and antigenicity in a mouse model and to obtain and characterize a panel of hybridoma-derived monoclonal anti-N antibodies. We also analyzed the variable epitopes of the N protein that are potentially involved in differential recognition of antiviral antibodies. These results will further deepen our knowledge of the cross-reactivity of the humoral immune response in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Rak
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Nikolay Gorbunov
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Valeria Kostevich
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Alexey Sokolov
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Polina Prokopenko
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Larisa Rudenko
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Irina Isakova-Sivak
- Department of Virology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
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SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Vaccine-Induced Immune Imprinting Reduces Nucleocapsid Protein Antibody Response in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:8287087. [PMID: 35935586 PMCID: PMC9355782 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8287087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune imprinting or original antigenic sin (OAS) is the process by which the humoral memory response to an antigen can inhibit the response to new epitopes of that antigen originating from a second encounter with the pathogen. Given the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple vaccines have been developed against SARS-CoV-2 infection. These vaccines are directed to the spike protein (S protein) of the original variant of Wuhan D614G. Vaccine memory immune response against S protein in noninfected subjects could inhibit, through the OAS mechanism, the response to new epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 after infection. The present study analyzes whether the memory antibody B cell response generated by mRNA vaccines against S protein can inhibit the primary antibody immune response to other SARS-CoV-2 antigens, such as nucleocapsid protein (N protein). SARS-CoV-2 primary infection in vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) produced significantly lower titers of anti-N antibodies than that in nonvaccinated HCWs: 5.7 (IQR 2.3-15.2) versus 12.2 (IQR 4.2-32.0), respectively (p = 0.005). Therefore, spike protein vaccine-induced immune imprinting (original antigenic sin) reduces N protein antibody response.
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Mullin S, Wyk BV, Asher JL, Compton SR, Allore HG, Zeiss CJ. Modeling pandemic to endemic patterns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission using parameters estimated from animal model data. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac096. [PMID: 35799833 PMCID: PMC9254158 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The contours of endemic coronaviral disease in humans and other animals are shaped by the tendency of coronaviruses to generate new variants superimposed upon nonsterilizing immunity. Consequently, patterns of coronaviral reinfection in animals can inform the emerging endemic state of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We generated controlled reinfection data after high and low risk natural exposure or heterologous vaccination to sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDAV) in rats. Using deterministic compartmental models, we utilized in vivo estimates from these experiments to model the combined effects of variable transmission rates, variable duration of immunity, successive waves of variants, and vaccination on patterns of viral transmission. Using rat experiment-derived estimates, an endemic state achieved by natural infection alone occurred after a median of 724 days with approximately 41.3% of the population susceptible to reinfection. After accounting for translationally altered parameters between rat-derived data and human SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and after introducing vaccination, we arrived at a median time to endemic stability of 1437 (IQR = 749.25) days with a median 15.4% of the population remaining susceptible. We extended the models to introduce successive variants with increasing transmissibility and included the effect of varying duration of immunity. As seen with endemic coronaviral infections in other animals, transmission states are altered by introduction of new variants, even with vaccination. However, vaccination combined with natural immunity maintains a lower prevalence of infection than natural infection alone and provides greater resilience against the effects of transmissible variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mullin
- Yale Center for Medical Informatics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Brent Vander Wyk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jennifer L Asher
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Susan R Compton
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Heather G Allore
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Caroline J Zeiss
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Mullin S, Wyk BV, Asher JL, Compton SR, Allore HG, Zeiss CJ. Modeling pandemic to endemic patterns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission using parameters estimated from animal model data. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac096. [PMID: 35799833 PMCID: PMC9254158 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac096;] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The contours of endemic coronaviral disease in humans and other animals are shaped by the tendency of coronaviruses to generate new variants superimposed upon nonsterilizing immunity. Consequently, patterns of coronaviral reinfection in animals can inform the emerging endemic state of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We generated controlled reinfection data after high and low risk natural exposure or heterologous vaccination to sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDAV) in rats. Using deterministic compartmental models, we utilized in vivo estimates from these experiments to model the combined effects of variable transmission rates, variable duration of immunity, successive waves of variants, and vaccination on patterns of viral transmission. Using rat experiment-derived estimates, an endemic state achieved by natural infection alone occurred after a median of 724 days with approximately 41.3% of the population susceptible to reinfection. After accounting for translationally altered parameters between rat-derived data and human SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and after introducing vaccination, we arrived at a median time to endemic stability of 1437 (IQR = 749.25) days with a median 15.4% of the population remaining susceptible. We extended the models to introduce successive variants with increasing transmissibility and included the effect of varying duration of immunity. As seen with endemic coronaviral infections in other animals, transmission states are altered by introduction of new variants, even with vaccination. However, vaccination combined with natural immunity maintains a lower prevalence of infection than natural infection alone and provides greater resilience against the effects of transmissible variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mullin
- Yale Center for Medical Informatics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Brent Vander Wyk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jennifer L Asher
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Susan R Compton
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Heather G Allore
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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