Perspectives and potential approaches for targeting neuropilin 1 in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Svetlana P Chapoval; Achsah D Keegan

doi:10.1186/s10020-021-00423-y

Perspectives and potential approaches for targeting neuropilin 1 in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Mol Med. 2021 Dec 27;27(1):162. doi: 10.1186/s10020-021-00423-y.

Authors

Svetlana P Chapoval^{1

2

3

4}, Achsah D Keegan^{5

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. schapoval@som.umaryland.edu.
² Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 800 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. schapoval@som.umaryland.edu.
³ Program in Oncology at the Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. schapoval@som.umaryland.edu.
⁴ SemaPlex LLC, Ellicott City, MD, USA. schapoval@som.umaryland.edu.
⁵ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 800 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
⁷ Program in Oncology at the Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁸ VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel type b coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 224 million confirmed infections with this virus and more than 4.6 million people dead because of it, it is critically important to define the immunological processes occurring in the human response to this virus and pathogenetic mechanisms of its deadly manifestation. This perspective focuses on the contribution of the recently discovered interaction of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with neuropilin 1 (NRP1) receptor, NRP1 as a virus entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, its role in different physiologic and pathologic conditions, and the potential to target the Spike-NRP1 interaction to combat virus infectivity and severe disease manifestations.

Keywords: ACE2, angiotensin converting enzyme 2; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; CendR C-end rule; Comorbidities; Host immune response; Immunotargets and strategies; Molecular structures; NRP-1, neuropilin-1; RBD, receptor-biding domain; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike protein.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / chemistry
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism
Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
COVID-19 / epidemiology
COVID-19 / etiology
COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
Comorbidity
Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
Diabetes Mellitus / virology
Female
Host-Pathogen Interactions / drug effects
Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
Humans
Infant
Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
Neuropilin-1 / chemistry*
Neuropilin-1 / immunology
Neuropilin-1 / metabolism*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism

Substances

Antiviral Agents
NRP1 protein, human
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
Neuropilin-1
ACE2 protein, human
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding