A dual-role of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in regulating innate immune response.

The recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, may trigger immunosuppression in the early stage and overactive immune response in the late stage of infection; However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrated that ...
the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein dually regulated innate immune responses, i.e., the low-dose N protein suppressed type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling and inflammatory cytokines, whereas high-dose N protein promoted IFN-I signaling and inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, the SARS-CoV-2 N protein dually regulated the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3, STAT1, and STAT2. Additionally, low-dose N protein combined with TRIM25 could suppress the ubiquitination and activation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). Our findings revealed a regulatory mechanism of innate immune responses by the SARS-CoV-2 N protein, which would contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and other SARS-like coronaviruses, and development of more effective strategies for controlling COVID-19.
Mesh Terms:
A549 Cells, COVID-19, Caco-2 Cells, Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins, HEK293 Cells, Hep G2 Cells, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Interferon Type I, Phosphoproteins, SARS-CoV-2, Signal Transduction
Signal Transduct Target Ther
Date: Dec. 01, 2020
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