Host mitochondrial transcriptome response to SARS-CoV-2 in multiple cell models and clinical samples

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 8;11(1):3. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79552-z.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 induces a muted innate immune response compared to other respiratory viruses. Mitochondrial dynamics might partially mediate this effect of SARS-CoV-2 on innate immunity. Polypeptides encoded by open reading frames of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to localize to mitochondria and disrupt Mitochondrial Antiviral Signaling (MAVS) protein signaling. Therefore, we hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 would distinctly regulate the mitochondrial transcriptome. We analyzed multiple publicly available RNASeq data derived from primary cells, cell lines, and clinical samples (i.e., BALF and lung). We report that SARS-CoV-2 did not dramatically regulate (1) mtDNA-encoded gene expression or (2) MAVS expression, and (3) SARS-CoV-2 downregulated nuclear-encoded mitochondrial (NEM) genes related to cellular respiration and Complex I.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / virology*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / genetics*
  • Mitochondria / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial