Vitner EB, Avraham R, Politi B, Melamed S, Israely T. Elevation in sphingolipid upon SARS-CoV-2 infection: possible implications for COVID-19 pathology.
Life Sci Alliance 2021;
5:5/1/e202101168. [PMID:
34764206 PMCID:
PMC8605327 DOI:
10.26508/lsa.202101168]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection alters the levels of sphingolipids early post infection. This phenomenon is reflected by increased levels of sphingolipids, including gangliosides, in infected cells, as well as in serum in a SARS-CoV-2 murine model.
Understanding pathways that might impact coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations and disease outcomes is necessary for better disease management and for therapeutic development. Here, we analyzed alterations in sphingolipid (SL) levels upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection induced elevation of SL levels in both cells and sera of infected mice. A significant increase in glycosphingolipid levels was induced early post SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was essential for viral replication. This elevation could be reversed by treatment with glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors. Levels of sphinganine, sphingosine, GA1, and GM3 were significantly increased in both cells and the murine model upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. The potential involvement of SLs in COVID-19 pathology is discussed.
Collapse