Heparanase-Regulated Syndecan-1 Shedding Facilitates Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Egress

HPSE-mediated proinflammatory signaling contributes to neurobehavioral deficits following intranasal HSV-1 infection

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that can infect the brain, and an uncontrolled infection can lead to a range of diseases, including chronic nerve pain, encephalitis, and neurobehavioral abnormalities. These outcomes are often severe and have lasting consequences, highlighting the need to identify host factors that contribute to disease severity. In this study, we report that intranasal HSV-1 infection in murine model, which promotes viral dissemination into the brain, implicates the host protein heparanase (HPSE) as a key mediator of neuroinflammation. Specifically, we observed that the HPSE activity during HSV-1 infection in naïve animals promotes the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, enhances microglial activity in the brain, and contributes to cognitive impairment, anxiety, and motor coordination deficits. Such effects are significantly less detectable in heparanase deficient (Hpse-/-) mice. Additionally, we found that moderate activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly in Hpse+/+ mice, may contribute to the activation of the inflammasome pathway. This, in turn, leads to the activation of caspase-1 (Casp1) and caspase-3 (Casp3), which may play a role in nerve function loss. Our findings position HPSE as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating virus-induced neuroinflammation and neurobehavioral defects.

IMPORTANCE

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection in the brain can lead to severe and often permanent neurological consequences. Host factors influence disease outcomes in response to infection, and understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective therapies. This study identifies the host protein HPSE as a key mediator of neuroinflammation in response to HSV-1 infection. We demonstrate that the HPSE activity drives proinflammatory cytokine expression and microglial activation and promotes a signaling cascade involving toll-like receptors and caspase activation, potentially intensifying neuroinflammatory responses. These findings implicate HPSE as an important player in HSV-1 pathogenesis in the central nervous system and suggest that targeting HPSE could provide a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate virus-induced neuroinflammation and neurobehavioral disturbance.

Heparan sulfate chains in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) corresponds to the vast majority of liver cancer cases, with one of the highest mortality rates. Major advances have been made in this field both in the characterization of the molecular pathogenesis and in the development of systemic therapies. Despite these achievements, biomarkers and more efficient treatments are still needed to improve its management. Heparan sulfate (HS) chains are polysaccharides that are present at the cell surface or in the extracellular matrix that are able to bind various types of molecules, such as soluble factors, affecting their availability and thus their effects, or to contribute to interactions that position cells in their environments. Enzymes can modify HS chains after their synthesis, thus changing their properties. Numerous studies have shown HS-related proteins to be key actors that are associated with cellular effects, such as tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, including in the context of liver carcinogenesis. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the biology of HS chains and their potential importance in HCC, from biological considerations to clinical development, and the identification of biomarkers, as well as therapeutic perspectives.

Recruitment of apolipoprotein E facilitates Herpes simplex virus 1 attachment and release

Human apolipoprotein E (ApoE) has been shown to play important roles during primary infection and pathogenesis of several viruses. Furthermore, epidemiological studies suggest that interactions between ApoE 4 and herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV1) could associate with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, little is known about the ApoE-HSV1 interactions at molecular levels. Here, we investigate the effects of ApoE on HSV1 infection in vitro. Our results show that ApoE promotes HSV1 growth, which is attributed to the incorporation of ApoE into HSV1 particles. Using both biological and biophysical approaches, we conclude that ApoE-coated HSV1 demonstrates a more efficient attachment to and faster release from the cell surface. Mechanistic studies reveal that ApoE modifies HSV1 interactions with heparan sulfate, thereby modulating interactions between HSV1 and the cell surface. Overall, our results provide new insights into the roles of ApoE during HSV1 infections which may inspire future studies on Alzheimer's disease etiology.

Syndecan-1: a key player in health and disease

Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a transmembrane protein localized on the basolateral surface of epithelial cells, encompassing a core protein with heparin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan side chains. SDC-1 is involved in a panoply of cellular mechanisms including cell-to-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix interactions, cell cycle modulation, and lipid clearance. Alterations in the expression and function of SDC-1 are implicated in numerous disease entities, making it an attractive diagnostic and therapeutic target. However, despite its broad involvement in several disease processes, the underlying mechanism contributing to its diverse functions, pathogenesis, and therapeutic uses remains underexplored. Therefore, this review examines the role of SDC-1 in health and disease, focusing on liver pathologies, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer, and sheds light on SDC-1-based therapeutic approaches. Moreover, it delves into the mechanisms through which SDC-1 contributes to these diseases, emphasizing cell-type specific mechanisms. By comprehensively summarizing the significance of SDC-1, its association with several diseases, and its underlying mechanisms of action, the findings of this review could inform future research directions toward the development of targeted therapies and early diagnosis for a multitude of disease entities.

A biological guide to glycosaminoglycans: current perspectives and pending questions

Mammalian glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), except hyaluronan (HA), are sulfated polysaccharides that are covalently attached to core proteins to form proteoglycans (PGs). This article summarizes key biological findings for the most widespread GAGs, namely HA, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), keratan sulfate (KS), and heparan sulfate (HS). It focuses on the major processes that remain to be deciphered to get a comprehensive view of the mechanisms mediating GAG biological functions. They include the regulation of GAG biosynthesis and postsynthetic modifications in heparin (HP) and HS, the composition, heterogeneity, and function of the tetrasaccharide linkage region and its role in disease, the functional characterization of the new PGs recently identified by glycoproteomics, the selectivity of interactions mediated by GAG chains, the display of GAG chains and PGs at the cell surface and their impact on the availability and activity of soluble ligands, and on their move through the glycocalyx layer to reach their receptors, the human GAG profile in health and disease, the roles of GAGs and particular PGs (syndecans, decorin, and biglycan) involved in cancer, inflammation, and fibrosis, the possible use of GAGs and PGs as disease biomarkers, and the design of inhibitors targeting GAG biosynthetic enzymes and GAG-protein interactions to develop novel therapeutic approaches.

The underlying mechanisms of arenaviral entry through matriglycan

Matriglycan, a recently characterized linear polysaccharide, is composed of alternating xylose and glucuronic acid subunits bound to the ubiquitously expressed protein α-dystroglycan (α-DG). Pathogenic arenaviruses, like the Lassa virus (LASV), hijack this long linear polysaccharide to gain cellular entry. Until recently, it was unclear through what mechanisms LASV engages its matriglycan receptor to initiate infection. Additionally, how matriglycan is synthesized onto α-DG by the Golgi-resident glycosyltransferase LARGE1 remained enigmatic. Recent structural data for LARGE1 and for the LASV spike complex informs us about the synthesis of matriglycan as well as its usage as an entry receptor by arenaviruses. In this review, we discuss structural insights into the system of matriglycan generation and eventual recognition by pathogenic viruses. We also highlight the unique usage of matriglycan as a high-affinity host receptor compared with other polysaccharides that decorate cells.

Exploring Heparanase Levels in Tears: Insights From Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Keratitis Patients and Animal Studies

Purpose

Heparanase (HPSE) cleaves heparan sulfate proteoglycans during herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection, aiding in viral egress and disease progression. Its action has been well established in in vitro and in vivo models, but its relevance in human patients remains unclear. This study aimed to specifically evaluate tear HPSE levels of patients with herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) and to correlate these findings with a commonly used murine model.

Methods

Tear samples from patient and mice samples were collected at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India, and at the University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, respectively. Tears were collected from HSV-1 patients, bacterial/fungal keratitis cases, and healthy individuals. For in vivo study, C57BL/6 mice were infected with HSV-1 (McKrae strain) followed by tear fluid collection at various time points (0-10 days).

Results

The HSV-1, bacterial keratitis, fungal keratitis, and healthy control groups each had 30 patients. There was a significant difference in HPSE expression in the HSV-1 infected eyes (1.55 ± 0.19 units/mL) compared to HSV-1 contralateral eyes (1.23 ± 0.13 units/mL; P = 0.82), bacterial keratitis eyes (0.87 ± 0.15 units/mL; P = 0.0078), fungal keratitis eyes (0.64 ± 0.09 units/mL; P < 0.00001), and normal controls (0.53 ± 0.06 units/mL; P < 0.00001). C57BL/6 mice tear HPSE expression in infected eyes was 0.66 to 5.57 ng heparan sulfate (HS) removed per minute when compared to non-infected eye (range, 0.70-3.67 ng HS removed per minute).

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report elevated HPSE levels in the tears of patients with different forms of HSV-1 keratitis, and it confirms similar findings in a murine model, providing a valuable basis for future in vivo and clinical research on HSV-1 ocular infection.

Myocardial Oedema as a Consequence of Viral Infection and Persistence-A Narrative Review with Focus on COVID-19 and Post COVID Sequelae

Microvascular integrity is a critical factor in myocardial fluid homeostasis. The subtle equilibrium between capillary filtration and lymphatic fluid removal is disturbed during pathological processes leading to inflammation, but also in hypoxia or due to alterations in vascular perfusion and coagulability. The degradation of the glycocalyx as the main component of the endothelial filtration barrier as well as pericyte disintegration results in the accumulation of interstitial and intracellular water. Moreover, lymphatic dysfunction evokes an increase in metabolic waste products, cytokines and inflammatory cells in the interstitial space contributing to myocardial oedema formation. This leads to myocardial stiffness and impaired contractility, eventually resulting in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, myocardial remodelling and fibrosis. The following article reviews pathophysiological inflammatory processes leading to myocardial oedema including myocarditis, ischaemia-reperfusion injury and viral infections with a special focus on the pathomechanisms evoked by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In addition, clinical implications including potential long-term effects due to viral persistence (long COVID), as well as treatment options, are discussed.

The Interplay of Genital Herpes with Cellular Processes: A Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Perspective

Genital herpes, primarily caused by herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), remains a pressing global health concern. Its remarkable ability to intertwine with cellular processes, from harnessing host machinery for replication to subverting antiviral defenses like autophagy and programmed cell death, exemplifies the intricate interplay at the heart of its pathogenesis. While the biomedical community has extensively researched antiviral interventions, the efficiency of these strategies in managing HSV-2 remains suboptimal. Recognizing this, attention has shifted toward leveraging host cellular components to regulate HSV-2 replication and influence the cell cycle. Furthermore, innovative interventional strategies-including drug repurposing, microbivacs, connecting the host microbiome, and exploiting natural secondary metabolites-are emerging as potential game changers. This review summarizes the key steps in HSV-2 pathogenesis and newly discovered cellular interactions, presenting the latest developments in the field, highlighting existing challenges, and offering a fresh perspective on HSV-2's pathogenesis and the potential avenues for its treatment by targeting cellular proteins and pathways.

Sulodexide improves vascular permeability via glycocalyx remodelling in endothelial cells during sepsis

Background

Degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx is critical for sepsis-associated lung injury and pulmonary vascular permeability. We investigated whether sulodexide, a precursor for the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans, plays a biological role in glycocalyx remodeling and improves endothelial barrier dysfunction in sepsis.

Methods

The number of children with septic shock that were admitted to the PICU at Children's Hospital of Fudan University who enrolled in the study was 28. On days one and three after enrollment, venous blood samples were collected, and heparan sulfate, and syndecan-1 (SDC1) were assayed in the plasma. We established a cell model of glycocalyx shedding by heparinase III and induced sepsis in a mouse model via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Sulodexide was administrated to prevent endothelial glycocalyx damage. Endothelial barrier function and expression of endothelial-related proteins were determined using permeability, western blot and immunofluorescent staining. The survival rate, histopathology evaluation of lungs and wet-to-dry lung weight ratio were also evaluated.

Results

We found that circulating SDC1 levels were persistently upregulated in the non-alive group on days 1 and 3 and were positively correlated with IL-6 levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that SDC1 could distinguish patients with mortality. We showed that SDC1-shedding caused endothelial permeability in the presence of heparinase III and sepsis conditions. Mechanistically, sulodexide (30 LSU/mL) administration markedly inhibited SDC1 shedding and prevented endothelial permeability with zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) upregulation via NF-κB/ZO-1 pathway. In mice with LPS and CLP-induced sepsis, sulodexide (40 mg/kg) administration decreased the plasma levels of SDC1 and increased survival rate. Additionally, sulodexide alleviated lung injury and restored endothelial glycocalyx damage.

Conlusions

In conclusion, our data suggest that SDC1 predicts prognosis in children with septic shock and sulodexide may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of sepsis-associated endothelial dysfunction.

Conformations, interactions and functions of intrinsically disordered syndecans

Syndecans are transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans present on most mammalian cell surfaces. They have a long evolutionary history, a single syndecan gene being expressed in bilaterian invertebrates. Syndecans have attracted interest because of their potential roles in development and disease, including vascular diseases, inflammation and various cancers. Recent structural data is providing important insights into their functions, which are complex, involving both intrinsic signaling through cytoplasmic binding partners and co-operative mechanisms where syndecans form a signaling nexus with other receptors such as integrins and tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. While the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4 has a well-defined dimeric structure, the syndecan ectodomains are intrinsically disordered, which is linked to a capacity to interact with multiple partners. However, it remains to fully establish the impact of glycanation and partner proteins on syndecan core protein conformations. Genetic models indicate that a conserved property of syndecans links the cytoskeleton to calcium channels of the transient receptor potential class, compatible with roles as mechanosensors. In turn, syndecans influence actin cytoskeleton organization to impact motility, adhesion and the extracellular matrix environment. Syndecan clustering with other cell surface receptors into signaling microdomains has relevance to tissue differentiation in development, for example in stem cells, but also in disease where syndecan expression can be markedly up-regulated. Since syndecans have potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as possible targets in some forms of cancer, it remains important to unravel structure/function relationships in the four mammalian syndecans.

Role of Heparanase and Syndecan-1 in HSV-1 Release from Infected Cells

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic human virus that belongs to the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae. Establishment of its productive infection and progression of disease pathologies depend largely on successful release of virions from the virus-producing cells. HSV-1 is known to exploit many host factors for its release. Recent studies have shown that heparanase (HPSE) is one such host enzyme that is recruited for this purpose. It is an endoglycosidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) from the surface of infected cells. HS is a virus attachment coreceptor that is commonly found on cell surfaces as HS proteoglycans e.g., syndecan-1 (SDC-1). The current model suggests that HSV-1 during the late stage of infection upregulates HPSE, which in turn enhances viral release by removing the virus-trapping HS moieties. In addition to its role in directly enabling viral release, HPSE accelerates the shedding of HS-containing ectodomains of SDC-1, which enhances HSV-1 release via a similar mechanism by upregulating CREB3 and COPII proteins. This review outlines the role of HPSE and SDC-1 as newly assigned host factors that facilitate HSV-1 release during a lytic infection cycle.

Cellular Chondroitin Sulfate and the Mucin-like Domain of Viral Glycoprotein C Promote Diffusion of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 While Heparan Sulfate Restricts Mobility

The diffusion of viruses at the cell membrane is essential to reach a suitable entry site and initiate subsequent internalization. Although many viruses take advantage of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) to bind to the cell surface, little is known about the dynamics of the virus–GAG interactions. Here, single-particle tracking of the initial interaction of individual herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) virions reveals a heterogeneous diffusive behavior, regulated by cell-surface GAGs with two main diffusion types: confined and normal free. This study reports that different GAGs can have competing influences in mediating diffusion on the cells used here: chondroitin sulfate (CS) enhances free diffusion but hinders virus attachment to cell surfaces, while heparan sulfate (HS) promotes virus confinement and increases entry efficiency. In addition, the role that the viral mucin-like domains (MLD) of the HSV-1 glycoprotein C plays in facilitating the diffusion of the virus and accelerating virus penetration into cells is demonstrated. Together, our results shed new light on the mechanisms of GAG-regulated virus diffusion at the cell surface for optimal internalization. These findings may be extendable to other GAG-binding viruses.

The Key Role of Lysosomal Protease Cathepsins in Viral Infections

Cathepsins encompass a family of lysosomal proteases that mediate protein degradation and turnover. Although mainly localized in the endolysosomal compartment, cathepsins are also found in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and extracellular space, where they are involved in cell signaling, extracellular matrix assembly/disassembly, and protein processing and trafficking through the plasma and nuclear membrane and between intracellular organelles. Ubiquitously expressed in the body, cathepsins play regulatory roles in a wide range of physiological processes including coagulation, hormone secretion, immune responses, and others. A dysregulation of cathepsin expression and/or activity has been associated with many human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, kidney dysfunctions, and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as infectious diseases. In viral infections, cathepsins may promote (1) activation of the viral attachment glycoproteins and entry of the virus into target cells; (2) antigen processing and presentation, enabling the virus to replicate in infected cells; (3) up-regulation and processing of heparanase that facilitates the release of viral progeny and the spread of infection; and (4) activation of cell death that may either favor viral clearance or assist viral propagation. In this review, we report the most relevant findings on the molecular mechanisms underlying cathepsin involvement in viral infection physiopathology, and we discuss the potential of cathepsin inhibitors for therapeutical applications in viral infectious diseases.

Heparanase Is a Putative Mediator of Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage in COVID-19 - A Proof-of-Concept Study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic disease associated with injury (thinning) of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC), a protective layer on the vascular endothelium. The aim of this translational study was to investigate the role of the eGC-degrading enzyme heparanase (HPSE), which is known to play a central role in the destruction of the eGC in bacterial sepsis. Excess activity of HPSE in plasma from COVID-19 patients correlated with several markers of eGC damage and perfused boundary region (PBR, an inverse estimate of glycocalyx dimensions of vessels with a diameter 4-25 µm). In a series of translational experiments, we demonstrate that the changes in eGC thickness of cultured cells exposed to COVID-19 serum correlated closely with HPSE activity in concordant plasma samples (R = 0.82, P = 0.003). Inhibition of HPSE by a nonanticoagulant heparin fragment prevented eGC injury in response to COVID-19 serum, as shown by atomic force microscopy and immunofluorescence imaging. Our results suggest that the protective effect of heparin in COVID-19 may be due to an eGC-protective off-target effect.

Vascular Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage and Potential Targeted Therapy in COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 is characterized by progressive respiratory failure resulting from diffuse alveolar damage, inflammatory infiltrates, endotheliitis, and pulmonary and systemic coagulopathy forming obstructive microthrombi with multi-organ dysfunction, indicating that endothelial cells (ECs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The glycocalyx is defined as a complex gel-like layer of glycosylated lipid–protein mixtures, which surrounds all living cells and acts as a buffer between the cell and the extracellular matrix. The endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL) plays an important role in vascular homeostasis via regulating vascular permeability, cell adhesion, mechanosensing for hemodynamic shear stresses, and antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory functions. Here, we review the new findings that described EGL damage in ARDS, coagulopathy, and the multisystem inflammatory disease associated with COVID-19. Mechanistically, the inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species (ROS), matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), the glycocalyx fragments, and the viral proteins may contribute to endothelial glycocalyx damage in COVID-19. In addition, the potential therapeutic strategies targeting the EGL for the treatment of severe COVID-19 are summarized and discussed.

The endothelial glycocalyx in critical illness: A pediatric perspective

The vascular endothelium is the interface between circulating blood and end organs and thus has a critical role in preserving organ function. The endothelium is lined by a glycan-rich glycocalyx that uniquely contributes to endothelial function through its regulation of leukocyte and platelet interactions with the vessel wall, vascular permeability, coagulation, and vasoreactivity. Degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx can thus promote vascular dysfunction, inflammation propagation, and organ injury. The endothelial glycocalyx and its role in vascular pathophysiology has gained increasing attention over the last decade. While studies characterizing vascular glycocalyx injury and its downstream consequences in a host of adult human diseases and in animal models has burgeoned, studies evaluating glycocalyx damage in pediatric diseases are relatively few. As children have unique physiology that differs from adults, significant knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of the causes and effects of endothelial glycocalyx disintegrity in pediatric critical illness. In this narrative literature overview, we offer a unique perspective on the role of the endothelial glycocalyx in pediatric critical illness, drawing from adult and preclinical data in addition to pediatric clinical experience to elucidate how marked derangement of the endothelial surface layer may contribute to aberrant vascular biology in children. By calling attention to this nascent field, we hope to increase research efforts to address important knowledge gaps in pediatric vascular biology that may inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

CREB3 Plays an Important Role in HPSE-Facilitated HSV-1 Release in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) exploits several host factors to enhance its replication and release from infected cells. It induces the production of host enzyme heparanase (HPSE) to aid in egress. While the mechanism by which HPSE assists in viral release is well-characterized, other host factors that are recruited along with HPSE for viral release are less well understood. In this study, we identify cyclic-AMP-responsive element-binding protein3 (CREB3) as a key player in HPSE-facilitated HSV-1 egress. When CREB3 is transiently upregulated in human corneal epithelial cells, HSV-1 release from the infected cells is correspondingly enhanced. This activity is linked to HPSE expression such that HPSE-transfected corneal epithelial (HCE) cells more highly express CREB3 than wild-type cells while the cells knocked out for HPSE show very little CREB3 expression. CREB3-transfected HCE cells showed significantly higher export of HPSE upon infection than wild-type cells. Our data suggests that coat protein complex II (COPII), which mediates HPSE trafficking, is also upregulated via a CREB3-dependent pathway during HSV-1 infection. Finally, the co-transfection of CREB3 and HPSE in HCE cells shows the highest viral release compared to either treatment alone, establishing CREB3 as a key player in HPSE-facilitated HSV-1 egress.

Induction of Filopodia During Cytomegalovirus Entry Into Human Iris Stromal Cells

Many viruses exploit thin projections of filopodia for cell entry and cell-to-cell spread. Using primary cultures of human iris stromal (HIS) cells derived from human eye donors, we report a significant increase in filopodia formation during human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Using confocal microscopy, we observed a large number of virions being frequently associated along the filopodia prior to cell infection. Depolymerization of actin filaments resulted in a significant inhibition of HCMV entry into HIS cell. Our results further revealed that the transient expression of HCMV envelope glycoprotein B (gB) triggers the induction of the filopodial system. Since gB is known to bind the diverse chains of heparan sulfate (HS), a comparative study was performed to evaluate the gB-mediated filopodial induction in cells expressing either wild-type HS and/or 3-O sulfated HS (3-OS HS). We found that cells co-expressing HCMV gB together with the 3-O sulfotranseferase-3 (3-OST-3) enzyme had a much higher and robust filopodia induction compared to cells co-expressing gB with wild-type HS. The above results were further verified by pre-treating HIS cells with anti-3-OS HS (G2) peptide and/or heparinase-I before challenging with HCMV infection, which resulted in a significant loss in the filopodial counts as well as decreased viral infectivity. Taken together, our findings highlight that HCMV entry into HIS cells actively modulates the actin cytoskeleton via coordinated actions possibly between gB and the 3-OS HS receptor to influence viral infectivity.

Heparanase Blockade as a Novel Dual-Targeting Therapy for COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused over 5 million deaths worldwide. Pneumonia and systemic inflammation contribute to its high mortality. Many viruses use heparan sulfate proteoglycans as coreceptors for viral entry, and heparanase (HPSE) is a known regulator of both viral entry and inflammatory cytokines. We evaluated the heparanase inhibitor Roneparstat, a modified heparin with minimum anticoagulant activity, in pathophysiology and therapy for COVID-19. We found that Roneparstat significantly decreased the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and retroviruses (human T-lymphotropic virus 1 [HTLV-1] and HIV-1) in vitro. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of cells from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of COVID-19 patients revealed a marked increase in HPSE gene expression in CD68+ macrophages compared to healthy controls. Elevated levels of HPSE expression in macrophages correlated with the severity of COVID-19 and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, including IL6, TNF, IL1B, and CCL2. In line with this finding, we found a marked induction of HPSE and numerous inflammatory cytokines in human macrophages challenged with SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein. Treatment with Roneparstat significantly attenuated SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein-mediated inflammatory cytokine release from human macrophages, through disruption of NF-κB signaling. HPSE knockdown in a macrophage cell line also showed diminished inflammatory cytokine production during S1 protein challenge. Taken together, this study provides a proof of concept that heparanase is a target for SARS-CoV-2-mediated pathogenesis and that Roneparstat may serve as a dual-targeted therapy to reduce viral infection and inflammation in COVID-19. IMPORTANCE The complex pathogenesis of COVID-19 consists of two major pathological phases: an initial infection phase elicited by SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication and an inflammation phase that could lead to tissue damage, which can evolve into acute respiratory failure or even death. While the development and deployment of vaccines are ongoing, effective therapy for COVID-19 is still urgently needed. In this study, we explored HPSE blockade with Roneparstat, a phase I clinically tested HPSE inhibitor, in the context of COVID-19 pathogenesis. Treatment with Roneparstat showed wide-spectrum anti-infection activities against SARS-CoV-2, HTLV-1, and HIV-1 in vitro. In addition, HPSE blockade with Roneparstat significantly attenuated SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein-induced inflammatory cytokine release from human macrophages through disruption of NF-κB signaling. Together, this study provides a proof of principle for the use of Roneparstat as a dual-targeting therapy for COVID-19 to decrease viral infection and dampen the proinflammatory immune response mediated by macrophages.

The Role and Therapeutic Value of Syndecan-1 in Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance

Metastasis and relapse are major causes of cancer-related fatalities. The elucidation of relevant pathomechanisms and adoption of appropriate countermeasures are thus crucial for the development of clinical strategies that inhibit malignancy progression as well as metastasis. An integral component of the extracellular matrix, the type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein syndecan-1 (SDC-1) binds cytokines and growth factors involved in tumor microenvironment modulation. Alterations in its localization have been implicated in both cancer metastasis and drug resistance. In this review, available data regarding the structural characteristics, shedding process, and nuclear translocation of SDC-1 are detailed with the aim of highlighting strategies directly targeting SDC-1 as well as SDC-1-mediated carcinogenesis.

CMV Seropositive Status Increases Heparanase SNPs Regulatory Activity, Risk of Acute GVHD and Yield of CD34+ Cell Mobilization

Heparanase is an endo-β-glucuronidase that is best known for its pro-cancerous effects but is also implicated in the pathogenesis of various viruses. Activation of heparanase is a common strategy to increase viral spread and trigger the subsequent inflammatory cascade. Using a Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP)-associated approach we identified enhancer and insulator regions that regulate HPSE expression. Although a role for heparanase in viral infection has been noticed, the impact of HPSE functional SNPs has not been determined. We investigated the effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus on the involvement of HPSE enhancer and insulator functional SNPs in the risk of acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor related CD34⁺ mobilization. A significant correlation between the C alleles of insulator rs4364254 and rs4426765 and CMV seropositivity was found in healthy donors and patients with hematological malignancies. The risk of developing acute GVHD after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was identified only in CMV-seropositive patients. A significant correlation between the enhancer rs4693608 and insulator rs28649799 and CD34⁺ cell mobilization was demonstrated in the CMV-seropositive donors. It is thus conceivable that latent CMV infection modulates heparanase regulatory regions and enhances the effect of functional SNPs on heparanase function in normal and pathological processes.

A guide to the composition and functions of the extracellular matrix

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic 3-dimensional network of macromolecules that provides structural support for the cells and tissues. Accumulated knowledge clearly demonstrated over the last decade that ECM plays key regulatory roles since it orchestrates cell signaling, functions, properties and morphology. Extracellularly secreted as well as cell-bound factors are among the major members of the ECM family. Proteins/glycoproteins, such as collagens, elastin, laminins and tenascins, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronan, and their cell receptors such as CD44 and integrins, responsible for cell adhesion, comprise a well-organized functional network with significant roles in health and disease. On the other hand, enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases and specific glycosidases including heparanase and hyaluronidases contribute to matrix remodeling and affect human health. Several cell processes and functions, among them cell proliferation and survival, migration, differentiation, autophagy, angiogenesis, and immunity regulation are affected by certain matrix components. Structural alterations have been also well associated with disease progression. This guide on the composition and functions of the ECM gives a broad overview of the matrisome, the major ECM macromolecules, and their interaction networks within the ECM and with the cell surface, summarizes their main structural features and their roles in tissue organization and cell functions, and emphasizes the importance of specific ECM constituents in disease development and progression as well as the advances in molecular targeting of ECM to design new therapeutic strategies.

Protease, Growth Factor, and Heparanase-Mediated Syndecan-1 Shedding Leads to Enhanced HSV-1 Egress

Heparan sulfate (HS) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are considered important for the entry of many different viruses. Previously, we demonstrated that heparanase (HPSE), the host enzyme responsible for cleaving HS chains, is upregulated by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection. Higher levels of HPSE accelerate HS removal from the cell surface, facilitating viral release from infected cells. Here, we study the effects of overexpressing HPSE on viral entry, cell-to-cell fusion, plaque formation, and viral egress. We provide new information that higher levels of HPSE reduce syncytial plaque formation while promoting egress and extracellular release of the virions. We also found that transiently enhanced expression of HPSE did not affect HSV-1 entry into host cells or HSV-1-induced cell-to-cell fusion, suggesting that HPSE activation is tightly regulated and facilitates extracellular release of the maturing virions. We demonstrate that an HSPG-shedding agonist, PMA; a protease, thrombin; and a growth factor, EGF as well as bacterially produced recombinant heparinases resulted in enhanced HSV-1 release from HeLa and human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells. Our findings here underscore the significance of syndecan-1 functions in the HSV-1 lifecycle, provide evidence that the shedding of syndecan-1 ectodomain is another way HPSE works to facilitate HSV-1 release, and add new evidence on the significance of various HSPG shedding agonists in HSV-1 release from infected cells.

The Extracellular Matrix in Skin Inflammation and Infection

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral component of all organs and plays a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and repair. While the ECM was long thought to mostly have passive functions by providing physical stability to tissues, detailed characterization of its physical structure and biochemical properties have uncovered an unprecedented broad spectrum of functions. It is now clear that the ECM not only comprises the essential building block of tissues but also actively supports and maintains the dynamic interplay between tissue compartments as well as embedded resident and recruited inflammatory cells in response to pathologic stimuli. On the other hand, certain pathogens such as bacteria and viruses have evolved strategies that exploit ECM structures for infection of cells and tissues, and mutations in ECM proteins can give rise to a variety of genetic conditions. Here, we review the composition, structure and function of the ECM in cutaneous homeostasis, inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis as well as infections as a paradigm for understanding its wider role in human health.

Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Viral Infection and Treatment: A Special Focus on SARS-CoV-2

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) encompass a group of glycoproteins composed of unbranched negatively charged heparan sulfate (HS) chains covalently attached to a core protein. The complex HSPG biosynthetic machinery generates an extraordinary structural variety of HS chains that enable them to bind a plethora of ligands, including growth factors, morphogens, cytokines, chemokines, enzymes, matrix proteins, and bacterial and viral pathogens. These interactions translate into key regulatory activity of HSPGs on a wide range of cellular processes such as receptor activation and signaling, cytoskeleton assembly, extracellular matrix remodeling, endocytosis, cell-cell crosstalk, and others. Due to their ubiquitous expression within tissues and their large functional repertoire, HSPGs are involved in many physiopathological processes; thus, they have emerged as valuable targets for the therapy of many human diseases. Among their functions, HSPGs assist many viruses in invading host cells at various steps of their life cycle. Viruses utilize HSPGs for the attachment to the host cell, internalization, intracellular trafficking, egress, and spread. Recently, HSPG involvement in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been established. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying HSPG/SARS-CoV-2 interaction and downstream effects, and we provide an overview of the HSPG-based therapeutic strategies that could be used to combat such a fearsome virus.

Standalone or combinatorial phenylbutyrate therapy shows excellent antiviral activity and mimics CREB3 silencing

Herpesviruses are ubiquitous human pathogens that tightly regulate many cellular pathways including the unfolded protein response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Pharmacological modulation of this pathway results in the inhibition of viral replication. In this study, we tested 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA), a chemical chaperone-based potent alleviator of ER stress, for its effects on herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 infection. Through in vitro studies, we observed that application of PBA to HSV-infected cells results in the down-regulation of a proviral, ER-localized host protein CREB3 and a resultant inhibition of viral protein synthesis. PBA treatment caused viral inhibition in cultured human corneas and human skin grafts as well as murine models of ocular and genital HSV infection. Thus, we propose that this drug can provide an alternative to current antivirals to treat both ocular HSV-1 and genital HSV-2 infections and may be a strong candidate for human trials.

Heparanase, cell signaling, and viral infections

Heparanase (HPSE) is a multifunctional protein endowed with many non-enzymatic functions and a unique enzymatic activity as an endo-β-D-glucuronidase. The latter allows it to serve as a key modulator of extracellular matrix (ECM) via a well-regulated cleavage of heparan sulfate side chains of proteoglycans at cell surfaces. The cleavage and associated changes at the ECM cause release of multiple signaling molecules with important cellular and pathological functions. New and emerging data suggest that both enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic functions of HPSE are important for health and illnesses including viral infections and virally induced cancers. This review summarizes recent findings on the roles of HPSE in activation, inhibition, or bioavailability of key signaling molecules such as AKT, VEGF, MAPK-ERK, and EGFR, which are known regulators of common viral infections in immune and non-immune cell types. Altogether, our review provides a unique overview of HPSE in cell-survival signaling pathways and how they relate to viral infections.

Heparanase-enhanced Shedding of Syndecan-1 and Its Role in Driving Disease Pathogenesis and Progression

Both heparanase and syndecan-1 are known to be present and active in disease pathobiology. An important feature of syndecan-1 related to its role in pathologies is that it can be shed from the surface of cells as an intact ectodomain composed of the extracellular core protein and attached heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains. Shed syndecan-1 remains functional and impacts cell behavior both locally and distally from its cell of origin. Shedding of syndecan-1 is initiated by a variety of stimuli and accomplished predominantly by the action of matrix metalloproteinases. The accessibility of these proteases to the core protein of syndecan-1 is enhanced, and shedding facilitated, when the heparan sulfate chains of syndecan-1 have been shortened by the enzymatic activity of heparanase. Interestingly, heparanase also enhances shedding by upregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Recent studies have revealed that heparanase-induced syndecan-1 shedding contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of cancer and viral infection, as well as other septic and non-septic inflammatory states. This review discusses the heparanase/shed syndecan-1 axis in disease pathogenesis and progression, the potential of targeting this axis therapeutically, and the possibility that this axis is widespread and of influence in many diseases.

Interplay between Cell-Surface Receptors and Extracellular Matrix in Skin

Skin consists of the epidermis and dermis, which are connected by a specialized basement membrane-the epidermal basement membrane. Both the epidermal basement membrane and the underlying interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) created by dermal fibroblasts contain distinct network-forming macromolecules. These matrices play various roles in order to maintain skin homeostasis and integrity. Within this complex interplay of cells and matrices, cell surface receptors play essential roles not only for inside-out and outside-in signaling, but also for establishing mechanical and biochemical properties of skin. Already minor modulations of this multifactorial cross-talk can lead to severe and systemic diseases. In this review, major epidermal and dermal cell surface receptors will be addressed with respect to their interactions with matrix components as well as their roles in fibrotic, inflammatory or tumorigenic skin diseases.