TMPRSS2 promotes SARS-CoV-2 evasion from NCOA7-mediated restriction

PLoS Pathog. 2021 Nov 22;17(11):e1009820. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009820. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Interferons play a critical role in regulating host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, but the interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) effectors that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 are not well characterized. The IFN-inducible short isoform of human nuclear receptor coactivator 7 (NCOA7) inhibits endocytic virus entry, interacts with the vacuolar ATPase, and promotes endo-lysosomal vesicle acidification and lysosomal protease activity. Here, we used ectopic expression and gene knockout to demonstrate that NCOA7 inhibits infection by SARS-CoV-2 as well as by lentivirus particles pseudotyped with SARS-CoV-2 Spike in lung epithelial cells. Infection with the highly pathogenic, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, or seasonal, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63, coronavirus Spike-pseudotyped viruses was also inhibited by NCOA7. Importantly, either overexpression of TMPRSS2, which promotes plasma membrane fusion versus endosomal fusion of SARS-CoV-2, or removal of Spike's polybasic furin cleavage site rendered SARS-CoV-2 less sensitive to NCOA7 restriction. Collectively, our data indicate that furin cleavage sensitizes SARS-CoV-2 Spike to the antiviral consequences of endosomal acidification by NCOA7, and suggest that the acquisition of furin cleavage may have favoured the co-option of cell surface TMPRSS proteases as a strategy to evade the suppressive effects of IFN-induced endo-lysosomal dysregulation on virus infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / virology*
  • Cell Line
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Furin / genetics
  • Furin / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Interferons / metabolism
  • Lysosomes / enzymology
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivators / genetics
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivators / metabolism*
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proteolysis
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Viral Pseudotyping
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • NCOA7 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivators
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Interferons
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS2 protein, human
  • FURIN protein, human
  • Furin