The Potential of Purinergic Signaling to Thwart Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2

Davide Ferrari; Michele Rubini; Jorge S Burns

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.904419

The Potential of Purinergic Signaling to Thwart Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2

Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 17:13:904419. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.904419. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Davide Ferrari^{1

2}, Michele Rubini³, Jorge S Burns^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Section of Microbiology and Applied Pathology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
² Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
³ Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
⁴ Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Abstract

A long-shared evolutionary history is congruent with the multiple roles played by purinergic signaling in viral infection, replication and host responses that can assist or hinder viral functions. An overview of the involvement of purinergic signaling among a range of viruses is compared and contrasted with what is currently understood for SARS-CoV-2. In particular, we focus on the inflammatory and antiviral responses of infected cells mediated by purinergic receptor activation. Although there is considerable variation in a patient's response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, a principle immediate concern in Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the possibility of an aberrant inflammatory activation causing diffuse lung oedema and respiratory failure. We discuss the most promising potential interventions modulating purinergic signaling that may attenuate the more serious repercussions of SARS-CoV-2 infection and aspects of their implementation.

Keywords: P1 receptors; P2 receptors; SARS-CoV-2; extracellular ATP; extracellular adenosine; virus.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Lung
SARS-CoV-2*
Signal Transduction
Virus Replication / physiology