Landscape of Molecular Crosstalk Perturbation between Lung Cancer and COVID-19

Transcriptional profiles and common genes link lung cancer with the development and severity of COVID-19

Lung cancer patients with COVID-19 present an increased risk of developing severe disease and, consequently, have poor outcomes. Determining SARS-CoV-2-host interactome in lung cancer cells and tissues, infected or uninfected with SARS-CoV-2, may reveal molecular mechanisms associated with COVID-19 development and severity in lung cancer patients. Here, we integrated transcriptome data of lung tumors from patients with small- or non-small cell lung cancer (SCLC and NSCLC) and normal lung and lung cancer cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to characterize molecular mechanisms potentially associated with COVID-19 development and severity in lung cancer patients and to predict the SARS-CoV-2-host cell interactome. We found that the gene expression profiles of lung cell lines infected with SARS-CoV-2 resemble more primary lung tumors than non-malignant lung tissues. In addition, the transcriptomic-based interactome analysis of SCLC and NSCLC revealed increased expression of cancer genes BRCA1 and CENPF, whose proteins are known or predicted to interact with the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and helicase, respectively. We also found that TRIB3, a gene coding a putative host-SARS-CoV-2 interacting protein associated with COVID-19 infection, is co-expressed with the up-regulated genes MTHFD2, ADM2, and GPT2 in all tested conditions. Our analysis identified biological processes such as amino acid metabolism and angiogenesis and 22 host mediators of SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication that may contribute to the development and severity of COVID-19 in lung cancers.

In silico prediction of COVID-19 cytokine storm in lung cancer types

Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumors and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Mainly, Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for more than eighty-five percent of all lung cancers, consists of two major subtypes: lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) affected millions of people caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) around the globe. Lung cancer patients and COVID-19 present unique and unfortunate lethal combinations because the lungs are the primary target organ of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical studies have demonstrated that an over-activated inflammatory response associated with severe COVID-19 cases is characterized by excessive auto-amplifying cytokine release, which is defined as a “cytokine storm.” ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors play an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 infection; therefore, using in silico analysis, we did correlation analysis with immune infiltration markers in LUAD and LUSC patient groups. Our study identified a promising correlation between immune-modulators and receptor proteins (ACE-2 and TMPRSS2), creating a domain that requires further laboratory studies for clinical authentication.

•

Correlation between immune-modulators and virus receptor proteins certainly using computational approach. Focusing on differential vulnerability and complications toward SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cancer types.

•

Immunomodulatory role of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes by analysing various cytokines.

•

Potential immunomodulatory therapies to overpower the deregulated pro-inflammatory action in COVID-19.