Molecular Insights on the Possible Role of Annexin A2 in COVID-19 Pathogenesis and Post-Infection Complications

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Oct 13;22(20):11028. doi: 10.3390/ijms222011028.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected >235 million people and killed over 4.8 million individuals worldwide. Although vaccines have been developed for prophylactic management, there are no clinically proven antivirals to treat the viral infection. Continuous efforts are being made all over the world to develop effective drugs but these are being delayed by periodic outbreak of mutated SARS-CoV-2 and a lack of knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying viral pathogenesis and post-infection complications. In this regard, the involvement of Annexin A2 (AnxA2), a lipid-raft related phospholipid-binding protein, in SARS-CoV-2 attachment, internalization, and replication has been discussed. In addition to the evidence from published literature, we have performed in silico docking of viral spike glycoprotein and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with human AnxA2 to find the molecular interactions. Overall, this review provides the molecular insights into a potential role of AnxA2 in the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and post-infection complications, especially thrombosis, cytokine storm, and insulin resistance.

Keywords: Annexin A2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cytokine storm; infection; insulin resistance; pathogenesis; thrombosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Annexin A2 / chemistry
  • Annexin A2 / metabolism*
  • COVID-19 / pathology*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / metabolism
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / pathology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / chemistry
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • SARS-CoV-2 / metabolism
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / chemistry
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
  • Thrombosis / metabolism
  • Thrombosis / pathology
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • Annexin A2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase