The interferon-stimulated exosomal hACE2 potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication through competitively blocking the virus entry

Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2021 May 12;6(1):189. doi: 10.1038/s41392-021-00604-5.

Abstract

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it has become a global pandemic. The spike (S) protein of etiologic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specifically recognizes human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as its receptor, which is recently identified as an interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene. Here, we find that hACE2 exists on the surface of exosomes released by different cell types, and the expression of exosomal hACE2 is increased by IFNα/β treatment. In particular, exosomal hACE2 can specifically block the cell entry of SARS-CoV-2, subsequently inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and ex vivo. Our findings have indicated that IFN is able to upregulate a viral receptor on the exosomes which competitively block the virus entry, exhibiting a potential antiviral strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / genetics
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Exosomes / genetics
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Exosomes / virology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology*
  • Interferon-beta / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects*
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interferon-beta
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2