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Lenart M, Górecka M, Bochenek M, Barreto-Duran E, Szczepański A, Gałuszka-Bulaga A, Mazur-Panasiuk N, Węglarczyk K, Siwiec-Koźlik A, Korkosz M, Łabaj PP, Baj-Krzyworzeka M, Siedlar M, Pyrc K. SARS-CoV-2 infection impairs NK cell functions via activation of the LLT1-CD161 axis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1123155. [PMID: 37287972 PMCID: PMC10242091 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1123155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Natural killer (NK) cells plays a pivotal role in the control of viral infections, and their function depend on the balance between their activating and inhibitory receptors. The immune dysregulation observed in COVID-19 patients was previously associated with downregulation of NK cell numbers and function, yet the mechanism of inhibition of NK cell functions and the interplay between infected cells and NK cells remain largely unknown. Methods In this study we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection of airway epithelial cells can directly influence NK cell phenotype and functions in the infection microenvironment. NK cells were co-cultured with SARS-CoV-2 infected epithelial cells, in a direct contact with A549ACE2/TMPRSS2 cell line or in a microenvironment of the infection in a 3D ex vivo human airway epithelium (HAE) model and NK cell surface expression of a set of most important receptors (CD16, NKG2D, NKp46, DNAM-1, NKG2C, CD161, NKG2A, TIM-3, TIGIT, and PD-1) was analyzed. Results We observed a selective, in both utilized experimental models, significant downregulation the proportion of CD161 (NKR-P1A or KLRB1) expressing NK cells, and its expression level, which was followed by a significant impairment of NK cells cytotoxicity level against K562 cells. What is more, we confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 infection upregulates the expression of the ligand for CD161 receptor, lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1, CLEC2D or OCIL), on infected epithelial cells. LLT1 protein can be also detected not only in supernatants of SARS-CoV-2 infected A549ACE2/TMPRSS2 cells and HAE basolateral medium, but also in serum of COVID-19 patients. Finally, we proved that soluble LLT1 protein treatment of NK cells significantly reduces i) the proportion of CD161+ NK cells, ii) the ability of NK cells to control SARS-CoV-2 infection in A549ACE2/TMPRSS2 cells and iii) the production of granzyme B by NK cells and their cytotoxicity capacity, yet not degranulation level. Conclusion We propose a novel mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 inhibition of NK cell functions via activation of the LLT1-CD161 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzena Lenart
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Górecka
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Michal Bochenek
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Emilia Barreto-Duran
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Artur Szczepański
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Adrianna Gałuszka-Bulaga
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Natalia Mazur-Panasiuk
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Kazimierz Węglarczyk
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andżelika Siwiec-Koźlik
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | - Mariusz Korkosz
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Paweł P. Łabaj
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Monika Baj-Krzyworzeka
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Maciej Siedlar
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Pyrc
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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Jiang ST, Liu YG, Zhang L, Sang XT, Xu YY, Lu X. Systems biology approach reveals a common molecular basis for COVID-19 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Eur J Med Res 2022; 27:251. [PMCID: PMC9664052 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-022-00865-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be more susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and even more likely to suffer from severe COVID-19. Whether there is a common molecular pathological basis for COVID-19 and NAFLD remains to be identified. The present study aimed to elucidate the transcriptional alterations shared by COVID-19 and NAFLD and to identify potential compounds targeting both diseases.
Methods
Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for COVID-19 and NAFLD were extracted from the GSE147507 and GSE89632 datasets, and common DEGs were identified using the Venn diagram. Subsequently, we constructed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network based on the common DEGs and extracted hub genes. Then, we performed gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis of common DEGs. In addition, transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs regulatory networks were constructed, and drug candidates were identified.
Results
We identified a total of 62 common DEGs for COVID-19 and NAFLD. The 10 hub genes extracted based on the PPI network were IL6, IL1B, PTGS2, JUN, FOS, ATF3, SOCS3, CSF3, NFKB2, and HBEGF. In addition, we also constructed TFs–DEGs, miRNAs–DEGs, and protein–drug interaction networks, demonstrating the complex regulatory relationships of common DEGs.
Conclusion
We successfully extracted 10 hub genes that could be used as novel therapeutic targets for COVID-19 and NAFLD. In addition, based on common DEGs, we propose some potential drugs that may benefit patients with COVID-19 and NAFLD.
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Downregulation of MicroRNA-1 and Its Potential Molecular Mechanism in Nasopharyngeal Cancer: An Investigation Combined with In Silico and In-House Immunohistochemistry Validation. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:7962220. [PMID: 35251377 PMCID: PMC8896954 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7962220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background This study was aimed at elucidating the molecular biological mechanisms of microRNA-1 (miR-1) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Method In this study, we performed a pooled analysis of miR-1 expression data derived from public databases, such as GEO, ArrayExpress, TCGA, and GTEx. The miRWalk 2.0 database, combined with the mRNA microarray datasets, was used to screen the target genes, and the genes were then subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis using the DAVID 6.8 database. We then used the STRING 11.0 database and Cytoscape 3.80 software to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for screening hub genes. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was further used to validate the expression of hub genes. Finally, potential therapeutic agents for NPC were screened by the Connectivity Map (cMap) database. Results Pooled analysis showed that miR-1 expression was significantly decreased in NPC (SMD = −0.57; P < 0.05). The summary receiver operating characteristic curve suggested that miR-1 had a good ability to distinguish cancerous tissues from noncancerous tissues (AUC = 0.78). The results of GO analysis focused on mitotic nuclear division, DNA replication, cell division, cell adhesion, extracellular space, kinesin complex, and extracellular matrix (ECM) structural constituent. The KEGG analysis suggested that the target genes played a role in key signaling pathways, such as cell cycle, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, ECM-receptor interaction, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The PPI network suggested that cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) was the hub gene, and the CDK1 protein was subsequently confirmed to be significantly upregulated in NPC tissues by IHC. Finally, potential therapeutic drugs, such as masitinib, were obtained by the cMap database. Conclusion miR-1 may play a vital part in NPC tumorigenesis and progression by regulating focal adhesion kinase to participate in cell mitosis, regulating ECM degradation, and affecting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. miR-1 has the potential to be a therapeutic target for NPC.
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