Differential Signaling and Virus Production in Calu-3 Cells and Vero Cells upon SARS-CoV-2 Infection
10.4062/biomolther.2020.226
- Author:
Byoung Kwon PARK
1
;
Dongbum KIM
;
Sangkyu PARK
;
Sony MAHARJAN
;
Jinsoo KIM
;
Jun-Kyu CHOI
;
Madhav AKAULIYA
;
Younghee LEE
;
Hyung-Joo KWON
Author Information
1. Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Biomolecules & Therapeutics
2021;29(3):273-281
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Signaling pathways that are essential for virus production have potential as therapeutic targets against COVID-19. In this study, we investigated cellular responses in two cell lines, Vero and Calu-3, upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and evaluated the effects of pathway-specific inhibitors on virus production. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced dephosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, high virus production, and apoptosis in Vero cells. However, in Calu-3 cells, SARS-CoV-2 infection induced long-lasting phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3, low virus production, and no prominent apoptosis. Inhibitors that target STAT3 phosphorylation and dimerization reduced SARS-CoV-2 production in Calu-3 cells, but not in Vero cells. These results suggest a necessity to evaluate cellular consequences upon SARS-CoV-2 infection using various model cell lines to find out more appropriate cells recapitulating relevant responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro.