Folic acid restricts SARS-CoV-2 invasion by methylating ACE2

Yuanzhou Zhang; Yechun Pang; Baiyin Xu; Xingshi Chen; Shunshun Liang; Jingying Hu; Xiaoying Luo

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.980903

Frontiers in Microbiology (Aug 2022)

Folic acid restricts SARS-CoV-2 invasion by methylating ACE2

Yuanzhou Zhang,
Yechun Pang,
Baiyin Xu,
Xingshi Chen,
Shunshun Liang,
Jingying Hu,
Xiaoying Luo

Affiliations

Yuanzhou Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yechun Pang: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Baiyin Xu: Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Hosptial, Shanghai, China
Xingshi Chen: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Shunshun Liang: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Jingying Hu: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Xiaoying Luo: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.980903
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

Read online

The current COVID-19 pandemic is motivating us to elucidate the molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 invasion and find methods for decreasing its transmissibility. We found that SARS-CoV-2 could increase the protein level of ACE2 in mice. Folic acid and 5-10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) could promote the methylation of the ACE2 promoter and inhibit ACE2 expression. Folic acid treatment decreased the binding ability of Spike protein, pseudovirus and inactivated authentic SARS-CoV-2 to host cells. Thus, folic acid treatment could decrease SARS-CoV-2 invasion and SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibody production in mice. These data suggest that increased intake of folic acid may inhibit ACE2 expression and reduce the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. Folic acid could play an important role in SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords