SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Induces Time-Dependent CTSL Upregulation in HeLa Cells and Alveolarspheres

Bolsinger M, Drobny A, Wilfling S, Reischl S, Krach F, Moritz R, Balta D, Hehr U, Sock E, Bleibaum F, Hanses F, Winner B, Prieto Huarcaya S, Arnold P, Zunke F (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry Wiley-Blackwell

Article Number: e30627

DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30627

Abstract

Autophagy and lysosomal pathways are involved in the cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 virus. To infect the host cell, the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the cell surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). To allow the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane, the spike protein has to be cleaved. One possible mechanism is the endocytosis of the SARS-CoV-2–ACE2 complex and subsequent cleavage of the spike protein, mainly by the lysosomal protease cathepsin L. However, detailed molecular and dynamic insights into the role of cathepsin L in viral cell entry remain elusive. To address this, HeLa cells and iPSC-derived alveolarspheres were treated with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and the changes in mRNA and protein levels of cathepsins L, B, and D were monitored. Additionally, we studied the effect of cathepsin L deficiency on spike protein internalization and investigated the influence of the spike protein on cathepsin L promoters in vitro. Furthermore, we analyzed variants in the genes coding for cathepsin L, B, D, and ACE2 possibly associated with disease progression using data from Regeneron's COVID Results Browser and our own cohort of 173 patients with COVID-19, exhibiting a variant of ACE2 showing significant association with COVID-19 disease progression. Our in vitro studies revealed a significant increase in cathepsin L mRNA and protein levels following exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in HeLa cells, accompanied by elevated mRNA levels of cathepsin B and D in alveolarspheres. Moreover, an increase in cathepsin L promoter activity was detected in vitro upon spike protein treatment. Notably, the knockout of cathepsin L resulted in reduced internalization of the spike protein. The study highlights the importance of cathepsin L and lysosomal proteases in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein internalization and suggests the potential of lysosomal proteases as possible therapeutic targets against COVID-19 and other viral infections.

Authors with CRIS profile

Magdalena Bolsinger Department of Molecular Neurology Alice Drobny Department of Molecular Neurology Florian Krach Professur für Stammzell-Modelle seltener neuraler Erkrankungen Denise Balta Department of Molecular Neurology Elisabeth Sock Lehrstuhl für Biochemie und Pathobiochemie Beate Winner Professur für Stammzell-Modelle seltener neuraler Erkrankungen Philipp Arnold Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie Friederike Zunke Juniorprofessur für Translationale Neurowissenschaften

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Regensburg DE Germany (DE) Zentrum für Humangenetik Regensburg DE Germany (DE) Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Bolsinger, M., Drobny, A., Wilfling, S., Reischl, S., Krach, F., Moritz, R.,... Zunke, F. (2024). SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Induces Time-Dependent CTSL Upregulation in HeLa Cells and Alveolarspheres. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.30627

MLA:

Bolsinger, Magdalena, et al. "SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Induces Time-Dependent CTSL Upregulation in HeLa Cells and Alveolarspheres." Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2024).

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