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SARS-CoV-2 and its ORF3a, E and M viroporins activate inflammasome in human macrophages and induce of IL-1α in pulmonary epithelial and endothelial cells

Abrozek-Latecka, M.; Kozlowski, P.; Hoser, G.; Bandyszewska, M.; Hanusek, K.; Nowis, D.; Golab, J.; Grzanka, M.; Piekielko-Witkowska, A.; Schulz, L.; Hornung, F.; Deinhardt-Emmer, S.; Kozlowska, E.; Skirecki, T.

2023-11-14 immunology
10.1101/2023.11.13.566917 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Inflammasome assembly is a potent mechanism responsible for the host protection against pathogens, including viruses. When compromised, it can allow viral replication, while when disrupted, it can perpetuate pathological responses by IL-1 signaling and pyroptotic cell death. SARS-CoV-2 infection was shown to activate inflammasome in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, however, potential mechanisms responsible for this response are not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of ORF3a, E and M SARS-CoV-2 viroporins in the inflammasome activation in major populations of alveolar sentinel cells: macrophages, epithelial and endothelial cells. We demonstrated that each viroporin is capable of activation of the inflammasome in macrophages to trigger cell death and IL-1 release from epithelial and endothelial cells. Small molecule NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors reduced IL-1 release but weakly affected the pyroptosis. Importantly, we discovered that while SARS-CoV-2 could not infect the pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells it induced IL-1 and IL-33 release. Together, these findings highlight the essential role of macrophages as the major inflammasome-activating cell population in the lungs and point to endothelial cell expressed IL-1 as a potential novel component driving the pulmonary immunothromobosis in COVID-19.

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