SARS-CoV-2 invades host cells via a novel route: CD147-spike protein

Ke Wang, Wei Chen, Yu-Sen Zhou, Jian-Qi Lian, Zheng Zhang, Peng Du, Li Gong, Yang Zhang, Hong-Yong Cui, Jie-Jie Geng, Bin Wang, Xiu-Xuan Sun, Chun-Fu Wang, Xu Yang, Peng Lin, Yong-Qiang Deng, Ding Wei

10.1101/2020.03.14.988345

Research curated

Abstract

Currently, COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been widely spread around the world; nevertheless, so far there exist no specific antiviral drugs for treatment of the disease, which poses great challenge to control and contain the virus. Here, we reported a research finding that SARS-CoV-2 invaded host cells via a novel route of CD147-spike protein (SP). SP bound to CD147, a receptor on the host cells, thereby mediating the viral invasion. Our further research confirmed this finding. First, in vitro antiviral tests indicated Meplazumab, an anti-CD147 humanized antibody, significantly inhibited the viruses from invading host cells, with an EC50 of 24.86 g/mL and IC50 of 15.16 g/mL. Second, we validated the interaction between CD147 and SP, with an affinity constant of 1.85x10-7M. Co-Immunoprecipitation and ELISA also confirmed the binding of the two proteins. Finally, the localization of CD147 and SP was observed in SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cells by immuno-electron microscope. Therefore, the discovery of the new route CD147-SP for SARS-CoV-2 invading host cells provides a critical target for development of specific antiviral drugs.

Source: BioRxiv

Related molecules

Name	Synonyms	Genes
Basigin	CD_antigen: CD147, 5F7, Collagenase stimulatory factor, Leukocyte activation antigen M6, Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, Tumor cell-derived collagenase stimulatory factor	Bsg
Meplazumab
Spike glycoprotein	Spike protein, S glycoprotein, S-Protein, S1, S2, S3, Peplomer protein, E2	S, ORF2

Related interactions

Target	Drug	Type	Result
Basigin	Meplazumab	In vitro	positive