SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19

Abstract

Aging-associated vulnerability to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains poorly understood. Here, we show that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected aged mice lacking SIRT2, a cytosolic NAD⁺-dependent deacetylase, develop more severe disease and show increased mortality, while treatment with an NAD⁺ booster, 78c, protects aged mice from lethal infection. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that SIRT2 modulates the acetylation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), an immune sensor for cytosolic DNA, and suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and inflammation. Furthermore, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced inflammation is mediated at least in part by ORF3a, which triggers mtDNA release and cGAS activation. Collectively, our study reveals a molecular basis for aging-associated susceptibility to COVID-19 and suggests therapeutic approaches to protect aged populations from severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; CP: Immunology; CP: Microbiology; NAD; ORF3a; SARS-CoV-2; SIRT1; SIRT2; SIRT3; SIRT6; SIRT7; aging; cGAS; inflammation; mitochondria; sirtuin.