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

    January 2022 in “ PLoS Pathogens ”
    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
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    TLDR A new method using human lung cells helps find drugs to block and reduce inflammation from SARS-CoV-2.
    The study developed a rapid platform using primary human lung tissue cells to identify viral targets and screen for viral entry inhibitors and anti-inflammatory compounds for SARS-CoV-2. 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. Testing 39 drug candidates revealed a reproducible method suitable for various SARS-CoV-2 variants, identifying new compounds not found by conventional systems. The study also found that interferons did not modulate ACE2 expression and that local inflammatory responses could be modulated by different antiviral compounds, presenting a relevant method for studying SARS-CoV-2.
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