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Jaeger AS, Crooks CM, Weiler AM, Bliss MI, Rybarczyk S, Richardson A, Einwalter M, Peterson E, Capuano S, Barkhymer A, Becker JT, Greene JT, Freedman TS, Langlois RA, Friedrich TC, Aliota MT. Primary infection with Zika virus provides one-way heterologous protection against Spondweni virus infection in rhesus macaques. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadg3444. [PMID: 37390207 PMCID: PMC10313173 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Spondweni virus (SPONV) is the closest known relative of Zika virus (ZIKV). SPONV pathogenesis resembles that of ZIKV in pregnant mice, and both viruses are transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. We aimed to develop a translational model to further understand SPONV transmission and pathogenesis. We found that cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) inoculated with ZIKV or SPONV were susceptible to ZIKV but resistant to SPONV infection. In contrast, rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) supported productive infection with both ZIKV and SPONV and developed robust neutralizing antibody responses. Crossover serial challenge in rhesus macaques revealed that SPONV immunity did not protect against ZIKV infection, whereas ZIKV immunity was fully protective against SPONV infection. These findings establish a viable model for future investigation into SPONV pathogenesis and suggest that the risk of SPONV emergence is low in areas with high ZIKV seroprevalence due to one-way cross-protection between ZIKV and SPONV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S. Jaeger
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chelsea M. Crooks
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrea M. Weiler
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mason I. Bliss
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sierra Rybarczyk
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alex Richardson
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Morgan Einwalter
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Eric Peterson
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Saverio Capuano
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alison Barkhymer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jordan T. Becker
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph T. Greene
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tanya S. Freedman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ryan A. Langlois
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Thomas C. Friedrich
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew T. Aliota
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Clemens DJ, Ye D, Zhou W, Kim CSJ, Pease DR, Navaratnarajah CK, Barkhymer A, Tester DJ, Nelson TJ, Cattaneo R, Schneider JW, Ackerman MJ. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-mediated cardiomyocyte fusion may contribute to increased arrhythmic risk in COVID-19. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282151. [PMID: 36888581 PMCID: PMC9994677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2-mediated COVID-19 may cause sudden cardiac death (SCD). Factors contributing to this increased risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias include thrombosis, exaggerated immune response, and treatment with QT-prolonging drugs. However, the intrinsic arrhythmic potential of direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the heart remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To assess the cellular and electrophysiological effects of direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the heart using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). METHODS hiPSC-CMs were transfected with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (CoV-2 S) or CoV-2 S fused to a modified Emerald fluorescence protein (CoV-2 S-mEm). Cell morphology was visualized using immunofluorescence microscopy. Action potential duration (APD) and cellular arrhythmias were measured by whole cell patch-clamp. Calcium handling was assessed using the Fluo-4 Ca2+ indicator. RESULTS Transfection of hiPSC-CMs with CoV-2 S-mEm produced multinucleated giant cells (syncytia) displaying increased cellular capacitance (75±7 pF, n = 10 vs. 26±3 pF, n = 10; P<0.0001) consistent with increased cell size. The APD90 was prolonged significantly from 419±26 ms (n = 10) in untransfected hiPSC-CMs to 590±67 ms (n = 10; P<0.05) in CoV-2 S-mEm-transfected hiPSC-CMs. CoV-2 S-induced syncytia displayed delayed afterdepolarizations, erratic beating frequency, and calcium handling abnormalities including calcium sparks, large "tsunami"-like waves, and increased calcium transient amplitude. After furin protease inhibitor treatment or mutating the CoV-2 S furin cleavage site, cell-cell fusion was no longer evident and Ca2+ handling returned to normal. CONCLUSION The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can directly perturb both the cardiomyocyte's repolarization reserve and intracellular calcium handling that may confer the intrinsic, mechanistic substrate for the increased risk of SCD observed during this COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Clemens
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Dan Ye
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - C. S. John Kim
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - David R. Pease
- Discovery Engine/Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | | | - Alison Barkhymer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - David J. Tester
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Timothy J. Nelson
- Discovery Engine/Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Wanek Family Program for HLHS-Stem Cell Pipeline, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Roberto Cattaneo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Jay W. Schneider
- Discovery Engine/Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Ackerman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Navaratnarajah CK, Pease DR, Halfmann PJ, Taye B, Barkhymer A, Howell KG, Charlesworth JE, Christensen TA, Kawaoka Y, Cattaneo R, Schneider JW. Highly Efficient SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Human Cardiomyocytes: Spike Protein-Mediated Cell Fusion and Its Inhibition. J Virol 2021; 95:e0136821. [PMID: 34613786 PMCID: PMC8610601 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01368-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe cardiovascular complications can occur in coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Cardiac damage is attributed mostly to the aberrant host response to acute respiratory infection. However, direct infection of cardiac tissue by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also occurs. We examined here the cardiac tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in spontaneously beating human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). These cardiomyocytes express the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor but not the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) that mediates spike protein cleavage in the lungs. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2 infection of hiPSC-CMs was prolific; viral transcripts accounted for about 88% of total mRNA. In the cytoplasm of infected hiPSC-CMs, smooth-walled exocytic vesicles contained numerous 65- to 90-nm particles with canonical ribonucleocapsid structures, and virus-like particles with knob-like spikes covered the cell surface. To better understand how SARS-CoV-2 spreads in hiPSC-CMs, we engineered an expression vector coding for the spike protein with a monomeric emerald-green fluorescent protein fused to its cytoplasmic tail (S-mEm). Proteolytic processing of S-mEm and the parental spike were equivalent. Live cell imaging tracked spread of S-mEm cell-to-cell and documented formation of syncytia. A cell-permeable, peptide-based molecule that blocks the catalytic site of furin and furin-like proteases abolished cell fusion. A spike mutant with the single amino acid change R682S that disrupts the multibasic furin cleavage motif was fusion inactive. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in hiPSC-CMs and furin, and/or furin-like-protease activation of its spike protein is required for fusion-based cytopathology. This hiPSC-CM platform enables target-based drug discovery in cardiac COVID-19. IMPORTANCE Cardiac complications frequently observed in COVID-19 patients are tentatively attributed to systemic inflammation and thrombosis, but viral replication has occasionally been confirmed in cardiac tissue autopsy materials. We developed an in vitro model of SARS-CoV-2 spread in myocardium using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. In these highly differentiated cells, viral transcription levels exceeded those previously documented in permissive transformed cell lines. To better understand the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 spread, we expressed a fluorescent version of its spike protein that allowed us to characterize a fusion-based cytopathic effect. A mutant of the spike protein with a single amino acid mutation in the furin/furin-like protease cleavage site lost cytopathic function. Of note, the fusion activities of the spike protein of other coronaviruses correlated with the level of cardiovascular complications observed in infections with the respective viruses. These data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 may cause cardiac damage by fusing cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David R. Pease
- Discovery Engine/Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter J. Halfmann
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Biruhalem Taye
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alison Barkhymer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kyle G. Howell
- Mayo Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jon E. Charlesworth
- Mayo Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Yoshihiro Kawaoka
- Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Roberto Cattaneo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jay W. Schneider
- Discovery Engine/Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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