Project description:Obesity, characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation of the adipose tissue, is associated with adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes, yet the underlying mechanism is unknown. To explore whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection of adipose tissue contributes to pathogenesis, we evaluated COVID-19 autopsy cases and deeply profiled the response of adipose tissue to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.
Project description:A hyperinflammatory response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection gravely worsens the clinical progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although the undesirable effects of inflammasome activation have been correlated to the severity of COVID-19, the mechanisms of this process in the asymptomatic infection and disease progression have not yet been clearly elucidated. Our results indicate potential preventive targets for COVID-19 disease development and progression.
Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to multiorgan damage and fatal outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in blood, reflecting cell activation and tissue injury. We performed small RNA-Seq in healthy controls (N=11), non-severe (N=18) and severe (N=16) COVID-19 patients
Project description:Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mostly become critically ill around the time of activation of the adaptive immune response. Here, we provide evidence that antibodies play a role in the worsening of disease at the time of seroconversion. We show that early phase severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein-specific IgG in serum of critically ill COVID-19 patients induces hyper-inflammatory responses by human alveolar macrophages. We identified that this excessive inflammatory response is dependent on two antibody features that are specific for patients with severe COVID-19. First, inflammation is driven by high titers of anti-spike IgG, a hallmark of severe disease. Second, we found that anti-spike IgG from patients with severe COVID-19 is intrinsically more pro-inflammatory because of different glycosylation, particularly low fucosylation, of the Fc tail. Notably, low anti-spike IgG fucosylation normalized in a few weeks after initial infection with SARS-CoV-2, indicating that the increased antibody-dependent inflammation mainly occurs at the time of seroconversion. We identified Fcγ Receptor (FcγR) IIa and FcγRIII as the two primary IgG receptors that are responsible for the induction of key COVID-19-associated cytokines such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor. In addition, we show that anti-spike IgG-activated macrophages can subsequently break pulmonary endothelial barrier integrity and induce microvascular thrombosis in vitro. Finally, we demonstrate that the hyper-inflammatory response induced by anti-spike IgG can be specifically counteracted by fostamatinib, an FDA- and EMA-approved therapeutic small molecule inhibitor of the kinase, Syk.
Project description:Despite well-known susceptibilities to other respiratory viral infections, individuals with allergic asthma have shown reduced susceptibility to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Project description:Despite well-known susceptibilities to other respiratory viral infections, individuals with allergic asthma have shown reduced susceptibility to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 is predominantly defined by respiratory symptoms, but cardiac complications including arrhythmias, heart failure, and viral myocarditis are also prevalent. Although the systemic ischemic and inflammatory responses caused by COVID-19 can detrimentally affect cardiac function, the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on human cardiomyocytes is not well understood.
Project description:Recent efforts have identified genetic loci that are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection rates and disease outcome severity. Translating these genetic findings into druggable genes that regulate COVID-19 host susceptibility is a critical next step. Using a translational genomics approach that integrates COVID-19 genetic susceptibility variants, multi-tissue genetically regulated gene expression (GReX) and perturbagen signatures, we identify IL10RB as the top key regulator of COVID-19 host susceptibility. In a series of validation steps we show that predicted GReX up-regulation of IL10RB and higher IL10RB expression in COVID-19 patient blood is associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, and that in vitro IL10RB overexpression is associated with increased viral load and activation of disease-relevant molecular pathways.
Project description:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leads to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) which has caused worldwide pandemic infection. Yet due to unknown reason, certain COVID-19 patients exhibit severe inflammatory reactions associated with cytokine storm and neutrophil infiltration and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the lung, leading to further complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To find out whether the cause of lung injury in COVID-19 patients is due to increased reactive oxygen species and subsequently NET formation we have compared the post-mortem lung biopsies of deceased COVID-19 patients to normal lung tissues using RNA-Seq analysis.
Project description:Immune characteristics associated with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) severity are currently unclear. We characterized bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) immune cells from patients with varying severity of COVID-19 disease and from healthy subjects using single-cell RNA-sequencing. Proinflammatory monocyte-derived macrophages were abundant in the BALF from severe COVID-9 patients. Moderate cases were characterized by the presence of highly clonally expanded tissue-resident CD8+ T cells. This atlas of the bronchoalveolar immune-microenvironment suggests potential mechanisms underlying pathogenesis and recovery in COVID-19.
