Cell Death Discovery (Mar 2021)

SARS-CoV-2 engages inflammasome and pyroptosis in human primary monocytes

  • André C. Ferreira,
  • Vinicius Cardoso Soares,
  • Isaclaudia G. de Azevedo-Quintanilha,
  • Suelen da Silva Gomes Dias,
  • Natalia Fintelman-Rodrigues,
  • Carolina Q. Sacramento,
  • Mayara Mattos,
  • Caroline S. de Freitas,
  • Jairo R. Temerozo,
  • Lívia Teixeira,
  • Eugenio Damaceno Hottz,
  • Ester A. Barreto,
  • Camila R. R. Pão,
  • Lohanna Palhinha,
  • Milene Miranda,
  • Dumith Chequer Bou-Habib,
  • Fernando A. Bozza,
  • Patrícia T. Bozza,
  • Thiago Moreno L. Souza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-021-00428-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with leukopenia and uncontrolled inflammatory response in critically ill patients. A better comprehension of SARS-CoV-2-induced monocyte death is essential for the identification of therapies capable to control the hyper-inflammation and reduce viral replication in patients with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 engages inflammasome and triggers pyroptosis in human monocytes, experimentally infected, and from patients under intensive care. Pyroptosis associated with caspase-1 activation, IL-1ß production, gasdermin D cleavage, and enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in human primary monocytes. At least in part, our results originally describe mechanisms by which monocytes, a central cellular component recruited from peripheral blood to respiratory tract, succumb to control severe COVID-19.