Manipulation of cellular pathways by SARS-CoV-2 in the gastro-intestinal tract

Physiology 2021 (2021) Proc Physiol Soc 48, SA38

Research Symposium: Manipulation of cellular pathways by SARS-CoV-2 in the gastro-intestinal tract

Megan Stanifer1

1 University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

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Exacerbated pro-inflammatory immune response contributes to COVID-19 pathology. However, despite the mounting evidence about SARS-CoV-2 infecting the human gut, little is known about the antiviral programs triggered in this organ. To address this gap, we performed single-cell transcriptomics of SARS-CoV-2-infected intestinal organoids. We identified a subpopulation of enterocytes as the prime target of SARS-CoV-2 and, interestingly, found the lack of positive correlation between susceptibility to infection and the expression of ACE2. Infected cells activated strong proinflammatory programs and produced interferon, while expression of interferon-stimulated genes was limited to bystander cells due to SARS-CoV-2 suppressing the autocrine action of interferon. These findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 curtails the immune response and highlights the gut as a proinflammatory reservoir that should be considered to fully understand SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.



Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.

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