Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Entry, Inflammation, and New Therapeutics in Human Lung Tissue Cells

    April 2021 in “ bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) ”
    Judith Grau-Expósito, David Perea, Marina Suppi, Núria Massana, Ander Vergara, María José Soler, Benjamin Trinité, Julià Blanco, Javier García‐Pérez, José Alcamı́, Anna Serrano‐Mollar, Joel Rosado, Vicenç Falcó, Meritxell Genescà, María J. Buzón
    TLDR New compounds effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants were identified using a rapid testing method with human lung cells.
    The study developed a rapid platform using primary human lung tissue (HLT) cells to identify SARS-CoV-2 viral targets and screen for viral entry inhibitors and anti-inflammatory compounds. This method preserved key immune and structural cell populations, including alveolar type II cells, and maintained the expression of proteins like ACE2, TMPRSS2, CD147, and AXL, which are involved in viral infection. The antiviral testing of 39 drug candidates demonstrated a highly reproducible method suitable for different SARS-CoV-2 variants, identifying new compounds not detected by conventional systems. The study also found that interferons did not modulate ACE2 expression and that local inflammatory responses could be modulated by various antiviral compounds. This method provided a relevant and rapid approach for studying SARS-CoV-2.
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