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BioMed Central, Critical Care, 1(26), 2022

DOI: 10.1186/s13054-022-04062-5

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Gasdermin-D activation by SARS-CoV-2 triggers NET and mediate COVID-19 immunopathology

Journal article published in 2022 by Camila Meirelles S. Silva ORCID, Carlos Wagner S. Wanderley, Flavio Protasio Veras, Augusto Velozo Gonçalves, Mikhael Haruo Fernandes Lima, Juliana Escher Toller-Kawahisa, Giovanni Freitas Gomes, Daniele Carvalho Nascimento, Valter V. Silva Monteiro, Isadora Marques Paiva, Cícero José Luíz Ramos Almeida, Diego Brito Caetité, Juliana Costa Silva, Maria Isabel Fernandes Lopes, Letícia Pastorelli Bonjorno and other authors.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Abstract Background The release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is associated with inflammation, coagulopathy, and organ damage found in severe cases of COVID-19. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the release of NETs in COVID-19 remain unclear. Objectives We aim to investigate the role of the Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) pathway on NETs release and the development of organ damage during COVID-19. Methods We performed a single-cell transcriptome analysis in public data of bronchoalveolar lavage. Then, we enrolled 63 hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. We analyze in blood and lung tissue samples the expression of GSDMD, presence of NETs, and signaling pathways upstreaming. Furthermore, we analyzed the treatment with disulfiram in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results We found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly activates the pore-forming protein GSDMD that triggers NET production and organ damage in COVID-19. Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression of GSDMD and inflammasome-related genes were increased in COVID-19 patients. High expression of active GSDMD associated with NETs structures was found in the lung tissue of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we showed that activation of GSDMD in neutrophils requires active caspase1/4 and live SARS-CoV-2, which infects neutrophils. In a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the treatment with disulfiram inhibited NETs release and reduced organ damage. Conclusion These results demonstrated that GSDMD-dependent NETosis plays a critical role in COVID-19 immunopathology and suggests GSDMD as a novel potential target for improving the COVID-19 therapeutic strategy.