Unknown

Dataset Information

0

SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein causes the mitochondrial apoptosis and pulmonary edema via targeting BOK.


ABSTRACT: Deaths caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are largely due to the lungs edema resulting from the disruption of the lung alveolo-capillary barrier, induced by SARS-CoV-2-triggered pulmonary cell apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the proapoptotic role of SARS-CoV-2 is still unclear. Here, we revealed that SARS-CoV-2 membrane (M) protein could induce lung epithelial cells mitochondrial apoptosis. Notably, M protein stabilized B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) ovarian killer (BOK) via inhibiting its ubiquitination and promoted BOK mitochondria translocation. The endodomain of M protein was required for its interaction with BOK. Knockout of BOK by CRISPR/Cas9 increased cellular resistance to M protein-induced apoptosis. BOK was rescued in the BOK-knockout cells, which led to apoptosis induced by M protein. M protein induced BOK to trigger apoptosis in the absence of BAX and BAK. Furthermore, the BH2 domain of BOK was required for interaction with M protein and proapoptosis. In vivo M protein recombinant lentivirus infection induced caspase-associated apoptosis and increased alveolar-capillary permeability in the mouse lungs. BOK knockdown improved the lung edema due to lentivirus-M protein infection. Overall, M protein activated the BOK-dependent apoptotic pathway and thus exacerbated SARS-CoV-2 associated lung injury in vivo. These findings proposed a proapoptotic role for M protein in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, which may provide potential targets for COVID-19 treatments.

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8752586 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC6500462 | biostudies-literature
2024-07-31 | GSE268640 | GEO
| EMPIAR-11168 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC7995216 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7224202 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10214333 | biostudies-literature
| S-BSST379 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC9806350 | biostudies-literature
2021-10-20 | GSE174745 | GEO
| S-EPMC7094299 | biostudies-literature