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Al Otaibi A, Al Shaikh Mubarak S, Al Hejji F, Almasaud A, Al Jami H, Iqbal J, Al Qarni A, Harbi NKA, Bakillah A. Thapsigargin and Tunicamycin Block SARS-CoV-2 Entry into Host Cells via Differential Modulation of Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), AKT Signaling, and Apoptosis. Cells 2024; 13:769. [PMID: 38727305 PMCID: PMC11083125 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-Co-V2 infection can induce ER stress-associated activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) in host cells, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. To understand the complex interplay between SARS-Co-V2 infection and UPR signaling, we examined the effects of acute pre-existing ER stress on SARS-Co-V2 infectivity. METHODS Huh-7 cells were treated with Tunicamycin (TUN) and Thapsigargin (THA) prior to SARS-CoV-2pp transduction (48 h p.i.) to induce ER stress. Pseudo-typed particles (SARS-CoV-2pp) entry into host cells was measured by Bright GloTM luciferase assay. Cell viability was assessed by cell titer Glo® luminescent assay. The mRNA and protein expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western Blot. RESULTS TUN (5 µg/mL) and THA (1 µM) efficiently inhibited the entry of SARS-CoV-2pp into host cells without any cytotoxic effect. TUN and THA's attenuation of virus entry was associated with differential modulation of ACE2 expression. Both TUN and THA significantly reduced the expression of stress-inducible ER chaperone GRP78/BiP in transduced cells. In contrast, the IRE1-XBP1s and PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathways were downregulated with THA treatment, but not TUN in transduced cells. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake and phosphorylation of Ser307 IRS-1 and downstream p-AKT were enhanced with THA in transduced cells. Furthermore, TUN and THA differentially affected lipid metabolism and apoptotic signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that short-term pre-existing ER stress prior to virus infection induces a specific UPR response in host cells capable of counteracting stress-inducible elements signaling, thereby depriving SARS-Co-V2 of essential components for entry and replication. Pharmacological manipulation of ER stress in host cells might provide new therapeutic strategies to alleviate SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Al Otaibi
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Eastern Region, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.O.); (S.A.S.M.); (F.A.H.); (J.I.); (A.A.Q.)
- Biomedical Research Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sindiyan Al Shaikh Mubarak
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Eastern Region, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.O.); (S.A.S.M.); (F.A.H.); (J.I.); (A.A.Q.)
- Biomedical Research Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Al Hejji
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Eastern Region, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.O.); (S.A.S.M.); (F.A.H.); (J.I.); (A.A.Q.)
| | - Abdulrahman Almasaud
- Vaccine Development Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (H.A.J.); (N.K.A.H.)
| | - Haya Al Jami
- Vaccine Development Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (H.A.J.); (N.K.A.H.)
| | - Jahangir Iqbal
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Eastern Region, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.O.); (S.A.S.M.); (F.A.H.); (J.I.); (A.A.Q.)
- Biomedical Research Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Al Qarni
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Eastern Region, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.O.); (S.A.S.M.); (F.A.H.); (J.I.); (A.A.Q.)
- Biomedical Research Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naif Khalaf Al Harbi
- Vaccine Development Unit, Department of Infectious Disease Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (H.A.J.); (N.K.A.H.)
| | - Ahmed Bakillah
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Eastern Region, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.O.); (S.A.S.M.); (F.A.H.); (J.I.); (A.A.Q.)
- Biomedical Research Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
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Klírová M, Adamová A, Biačková N, Laskov O, Renková V, Stuchlíková Z, Odnohová K, Novák T. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms of long COVID. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2193. [PMID: 38272997 PMCID: PMC10810850 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52763-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to assess the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms of the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), known as the long COVID. A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study compared the efficacy and safety of prefrontal cortex active tDCS to sham-tDCS in treating NP-PASC. Patients diagnosed with NP-PASC, with a Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS) score ≥ 40, were eligible for the study. Twenty tDCS sessions were administered within four weeks, with continuous, end-of-treatment, and follow-up measurements. The primary outcome was a change in the FIS at the end-of-treatment, analyzed in the intention-to-treat population. Data from 33 patients assigned to active (n = 16) or sham-tDCS (n = 17) were analyzed. After the treatment, a decrease in the FIS score was more pronounced in the sham than in the active group, yet the intergroup difference was insignificant (11.7 [95% CI -11.1 to 34.5], p = 0.6). Furthermore, no significant intergroup differences were observed regarding anxiety, depression, quality of life, and cognitive performance. The small cohort sample, differences in baseline FIS scores between groups (non-stratified randomization), or chosen stimulation parameters may have influenced our findings. However, it might also be possible that the expected mechanism of action of tDCS is insufficient to treat these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Klírová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Andrea Adamová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nina Biačková
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Laskov
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Renková
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | | | - Karolína Odnohová
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Novák
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
- Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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