SARS-CoV-2 Receptors and Their Involvement in Cell Infection

The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has many times surpassed the epidemics caused by SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The reason for this was the presence of sites in the protein sequence of SARS-CoV-2 that provide interaction with a broader range of receptor proteins on the host cell surface. In this review, we consider both already known receptors common to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 and new receptors specific to SARS-CoV-2.

Experimental Search for New Means of Pathogenetic Therapy COVID-19: Inhibitor of H2-Receptors Famotidine Increases the Effect of Oseltamivir on Survival and Immune Status of Mice Infected by A/PR/8/34 (H1N1)

The development of drugs for the therapy of COVID-19 is one of the main problems of modern physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Taking into account the available information on the participation of mast cells and the role of histamine in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, as well as information on the positive role of famotidine in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus infection, an experiment was carried out using famotidine in a mouse model. We used a type A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus adapted to mice. The antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which belongs to the group of neuraminidase inhibitors, was used as a reference drug. The use of famotidine in combination with oseltamivir can increase survival, improve the dynamics of animal weight, reduce the level of NKT cells and increase the level of naive T-helpers. Further studies of famotidine in vivo should be aimed at optimizing the regimen of drug use at a higher viral load, as well as with a longer use of famotidine.

Von Willebrand Factor in Health and Disease

Abstract—

Von Willebrand factor (vWF), the key component of hemostasis, is synthesized in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes and released into the blood as high molecular weight multimeric glycoproteins weighing up to 20 million Daltons. Blood plasma metalloprotease ADAMTS13 cleaves ultra-large vWF multimers to smaller multimeric and oligomeric molecules. The vWF molecules attach to the sites of damage at the surface of arterioles and capillaries and unfold under conditions of shear stress. On the unfolded vWF molecule, the regions interacting with receptors on the platelet membrane are exposed. After binding to the vWF filaments, platelets are activated; platelets circulating in the vessels are additionally attached to them, leading to thrombus formation, blocking of microvessels, and cessation of bleeding. This review describes the history of the discovery of vWF, presents data on the mechanisms of vWF secretion and its structure, and characterizes the processes of vWF metabolism in the body under normal and pathological conditions.

Markers of Endothelial Cells in Normal and Pathological Conditions

Endothelial cells (ECs) line the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, as well as heart chambers, forming the border between the tissues, on the one hand, and blood or lymph, on the other. Such a strategic position of the endothelium determines its most important functional role in the regulation of vascular tone, hemostasis, and inflammatory processes. The damaged endothelium can be both a cause and a consequence of many diseases. The state of the endothelium is indicated by the phenotype of these cells, represented mainly by (trans)membrane markers (surface antigens). This review defines endothelial markers, provides a list of them, and considers the mechanisms of their expression and the role of the endothelium in certain pathological conditions.

[Identification of the Gene Encoding Nucleostemin in the Eye Tissues of Pleurodeles waltl]

Nucleotide sequences were identified in the eye tissues (lens, retina, and retinal pigment epithelium) of the adult newt Pleurodeles waltl by the polymerase chain reaction with primers for the Ns gene. Sequencing showed that these nucleotide sequences belong to the Ns gene of the newt P. walt, which encodes the nucleolar protein nucleostemin. Structural analysis revealed a high homology of Ns nucleotide sequences of P. walt! with those of newts. Cynops pyrrhogaster and Notophthalmus viridescens. The expression of the Ns gene of P. walt, identified in the specialized eye cells of adult newts of the studied species, indicates that these differentiated cells retain some of the molecular characteristics inherent to the undifferentiated cells.

[FGF2 signaling pathway components in tissues of the posterior eye sector in the adult newt Pleurodeles waltl]

The FGF2 signaling pathway components in tissues of the posterior wall in the normal and regenerating eye of the adult Pleurodeles waltl newt were detected for the first time. The fgf2 gene expression was found in the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A high homology of the mRNA nucleotide sequence of the most conservative fgf2 gene region in the P. waltl with the fgf2 orthologs in other vertebrates was proved. The Fgf2 protein aminoacid sequence of the P. waltl newt demonstrates even more homology with this growth factor in other vertebrates. The Fgf2 protein with a molecular weight 35 kDa was found in the studied eye tissues using Western blot hybridization. Localization of the Fgf2 protein and its Fgfr receptors was immunohistochemically studied in the pigment epithelium, choroid, central and growth retina regions of the newt native eye, and in the connective cilium of photoreceptors. Using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry methods, it was found that the fgf2 gene down-regulation and a decrease in the intensity of the immunochemical reaction of its protein product (Fgf2) occur in the early period after the retina removal (in 4-8 days) (as compared with those in the same department of the unoperated eye).

[Determination of mRNA-transcripts and heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSP90 in retina of the adult Spanish Ribbed Newt Pleurodeles waltl]

Expression of genes and heat shock proteins in normal intact retina of the Spanish Ribbed Newt Pleurodeles waltl was studied using polymerase chain reaction, Western blot hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. It was shown that the proteins HSP70 and HSP90, as well as their encoding transcripts of relevant genes, are constitutively expressed in eye tissues. These proteins were distributed differentially, and they were characterized by expression of different levels in the retina: HSP70 dominated in the external retina, while HSP90 dominated in the internal one, in particular, in Muller glial cells and the optic nerve. Transcripts and heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSP90 were also found in the retinal pigment epithelium and eye growth zone.

[Study of regeneration in amphibians in age of molecular-genetic approaches and methods]

The results of molecular-genetic mechanisms of regeneration in amphibians are reviewed. Based on the examples of traditional and well-studied models of the restoration of the retinas and lenses of eyes, as well as limbs and tails in amphibians, we analyze the current state of regeneration problems and questions linked to cell reprogramming, growth, and generate morphogenesis. The development of the Kol'tsov school of thought in the age of molecular-genetic approaches and methods are monitored. The contemporary interpretation of organ regeneration in terms of molecular-genetic regulation and a new look at the definition of regeneration as repeated development is proposed. We also emphasize the current problems that exist in that field of developmental biology and are caused by the many difficulties of genome sequencing and the introduction oftransgenesis in Urodela, the animal species with the highest regeneration abilities.

[Transcriptional factor Pitx2: localization during triton retina regeneration]

For the first time immune-chemical analysis of transcriptional factor Pitx2 localization during triton retina regeneration after its removal and also in tissues of a nonoperated eye of an adult triton has been carried out. Protein Pitx2 has been found in the nucleus of the earliest neuroblasts that form the germ of the retina. At a later stage of retina regeneration, Pitx2 was found in the nucleus of differentiating cells of ganglionic layers that correspond to Pitx2 protein localization in the native retina. Protein Ptix2 has also been found in the nucleus of less differentiated cells of the peripheral region of regenerative and native retina. It was demonstrated that protein Pitx2 is expressed not only in retina but also in other tissues of the posterior sector of the eye (pigment epithelium, choroid) using immune-histochemical and Western blot hybridization. It is supposed that transcriptional factor Pitx2 has been involved in the control of subsequent stages of retina regeneration from pigment epithelium cells.

Inversion of the response to serotonin in rats with traumatic shock

Normally serotonin reduced blood pressure. It was shown that in rats with traumatic shock its hypotensive effect was transformed into hypertensive one. In vitro serotonin exhibited a slight vasoconstrictor effect on isolated rat aorta, while 24 h after injury, the strength of aortic contractions in response to serotonin increased 2.2 times. Desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors caused by injection of high doses of dexamethasone (3 mg/kg) to rats for 5 days led to similar changes in serotonin effect. We hypothesized that inversion of the response to serotonin in shock was caused by increased activity and/or expression of vasoconstrictor serotonin receptors in blood vessels.

[Expression of regulatory genes Pax6, Otx2, Six3, and FGF2 during newt retina regeneration]

Molecular-genetic mechanisms of regeneration of adult newt (Pleurodeles waltl) retina were studied. For the first time, a comparative analysis of the expression of regulatory genes Pax6, Otx2, and Six3 and Fgf2 genes encoding signal molecules was performed in the native retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina and at successive stages of retina regeneration. Cell differentiation types were determined using genetic markers of cell differentiation in the RPE (RPE65) and the retina (betaII-tubulin and Rho). Activation of the expression of neurospecific genes Pax6 and Six3 and the growth factor gene Fgf2 and suppression of activation of the regulatory gene Otx2 and the RPE65 were observed at the stage of multipotent neuroblast formation in the regenerating retina. The expression of genes Pax6, Six3, and Fgf2 was retained at a later stage of retina regeneration at which the expression of retinal differentiation markers, the genes encoding betaII-tubulin (betaII-tubulin) and rhodopsin (Rho), was also detected. We assume that the above regulatory genes are multifunctional and control not only transdifferentiation of RPE cells (the key stage of retina regeneration) but also differentiation of regenerating retina cells. The results of this study, demonstrating coexpression of Pax6, Six3, Fgf2, betaII-tubulin, and Rho genes, provide indirect evidence for the interaction of regulatory and specific genes during retina regeneration.

[The role of desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors in the development of vascular resistance to endogenous vasoconstrictors in traumatic shock]

The fact that the activity of cytosol glucocorticoid receptors decreases in shock have been shown before [Golikov P. P. et al., 2001]. The connection between the development of vascular hyporeactivity to endogenous vasoconstrictors and desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors was studied in this investigation. On Kenton traumatic model in a rat experiment, it was shown that the strength of the isometric constriction of the isolated aorta in response to angiotensin II, endothelin-1, phenylephrine, noradrenaline, and vasopressin falls on the second day after a severe mechanical injury (3.3, 2.1, 1.7, 1.6, and 1.5 times, respectively; p < 0.01). On the contrary, the strength of the constriction in response to serotonin increases more then twice. Artificial desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors by long-term administration of dexamethasone (3 mg per kg during five days) results in similar changes of vascular reactivity i.e. a 2.5, 2, 7, and 1.4-fold decrease in the strength of aortal constriction in response to angiotensin II, vasopressin, and endothelin-1, respectively. The strength of the constriction in response to serotonin tended to increase as well. Carbahol-induced relaxation of the aorta pre-constricted with noradrenaline did not change compared with control, being 70 to 80%, both in shock and after desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors with dexamethasone. Presumably, the pathogenetic mechanism of pressor reaction suppression, connected with a decrease in cytosol glucocorticoid receptor activity and thus with inhibition of glucocorticoid-induced expression of the membrane receptors of endogenous vasoconstrictors, is realized in traumatic shock together with other mechanisms.

[Activation of cardiac contractivity of the edible snail H. pomatia under effect of thrombin. Study of role of cAMP]

Thrombin acts on mammalian cells through specific, the so-called protease-activated receptors (PARs). The thrombin action is mediated via three out of four known types of these receptors PAR(1, 3, 4). Mammalian thrombin receptors, apart from performance of other functions, control cardiac and vascular contractility. It is not known whether receptors of such kind exist in invertebrate animals. In the present work we have showed for the first time that thrombin in the concentration range of 0.01-1 units/ml increases amplitude of contractions of the isolated heart ventricle of the edible snail Helix pomatia. Its effect is reproduced by peptide ligands of receptors PAR1 and PAR4 that have sequences Ser-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg-Asn (SFLLRN) and Glu-Tyr-Pro-Gly-Lys-Phe (QYPGKF), respectively. A potent activati of cardiac contractivity of H. pomatia is serotonin. A comparative study of mechanisms of action of serotonin and thrombin on the edible snail heart was carried out. cAMP participates in transduction of signal from serotonin receptors. On the membrane preparation from the H. pomatia heart, it was shown that thrombin and peptide ligands PAR(1, 4), unlike serotonin, did not increase adenylyl cyclase activity. Thus, mechanism of activation of cardiac contractivity of H. pomatia by thrombin differs from the action mechanism of serotonin. It is suggested that molluscs have receptors homologous to protease activated mammalian receptors.