Binding of the spike of SARS-CoV-2 to steatotic hepatocytes promotes metabolic dysfunction

ABSTRACT: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a multi-organ damage that includes hepatic dysfunction, which has been observed in over 50% of COVID-19 patients. Liver injury in COVID-19 patients could be attributed to the cytopathic effects induced by the interation between the virus and hepatic cells, exacerbated immune responses or treatment-associated drug toxicity. Here we demonstrate that primary hepatocytes are susceptible to infection in different models: hepatocytes derived from humanized angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (hACE-2) mice and THLE-2 human cells. Pseudotyped viral particles engineered to express the full-length spike of SARS-CoV-2 and recombinant RBD bind to ACE2 expressed by hepatocytes, promoting metabolic reprogramming towards glycolysis but also mitochondrial dysfunction. In the context of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), steatotic hepatocytes derived from hACE2 mice are more vulnerable to infection, as a result of increased expression of ACE2. Metformin, a common therapeutic option for hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, prevents the interaction between the spike of SARS-CoV-2 and steatotic hepatocytes by reducing the expression of hACE2. In summary, we provide evidence that hepatocytes are amenable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and propose metformin as a therapeutic strategy to prevent liver dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the context of NASH.

INSTRUMENT(S): timsTOF Pro

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)

TISSUE(S): Hepatocyte, Liver

DISEASE(S): Covid-19

SUBMITTER: Mikel Azkargorta  

LAB HEAD: Felix Elortza

PROVIDER: PXD035263 | Pride | 2022-10-14

REPOSITORIES: Pride