1. Human galectin-9 potently enhances SARS-CoV-2 replication and inflammation in airway epithelial cells
- Author
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Du, Li, Bouzidi, Mohamed S, Gala, Akshay, Deiter, Fred, Billaud, Jean-Noël, Yeung, Stephen T, Dabral, Prerna, Jin, Jing, Simmons, Graham, Dossani, Zain Y, Niki, Toshiro, Ndhlovu, Lishomwa C, Greenland, John R, and Pillai, Satish K
- Subjects
Biochemistry and Cell Biology ,Biological Sciences ,Clinical Research ,Infectious Diseases ,Lung ,Emerging Infectious Diseases ,Coronaviruses ,2.1 Biological and endogenous factors ,Aetiology ,Infection ,Good Health and Well Being ,Humans ,Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 ,COVID-19 ,Epithelial Cells ,Galectins ,Inflammation ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Virus Replication ,galectin-9 ,inflammation ,airway epithelial cells ,Biochemistry and cell biology ,Immunology - Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has caused a global economic and health crisis. Recently, plasma levels of galectin-9 (Gal-9), a β-galactoside-binding lectin involved in immune regulation and viral immunopathogenesis, were reported to be elevated in the setting of severe COVID-19 disease. However, the impact of Gal-9 on SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunopathology remained to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that Gal-9 treatment potently enhances SARS-CoV-2 replication in human airway epithelial cells (AECs), including immortalized AECs and primary AECs cultured at the air-liquid interface. Gal-9-glycan interactions promote SARS-CoV-2 attachment and entry into AECs in an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-dependent manner, enhancing the binding of the viral spike protein to ACE2. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Gal-9 and SARS-CoV-2 infection synergistically induced the expression of key pro-inflammatory programs in AECs, including the IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, EIF2, and TNFα signaling pathways. Our findings suggest that manipulation of Gal-9 should be explored as a therapeutic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Published
- 2023