The analysis of cathepsin L that mediates cellular SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to COVID-19 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Feng Gao; Xia Wang; Nianhong Qin; Mingxia Zhang; Mingfeng Liao; Meiqi Zeng; Desheng Lu; Ou Sha

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1156038

The analysis of cathepsin L that mediates cellular SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to COVID-19 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Front Immunol. 2023 May 23:14:1156038. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1156038. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Feng Gao¹, Xia Wang², Nianhong Qin², Mingxia Zhang³, Mingfeng Liao³, Meiqi Zeng¹, Desheng Lu², Ou Sha¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Dentistry, Institute of Stomatological Research, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
² Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
³ Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Abstract

The vulnerability of the oral cavity to SARS-CoV-2 infection is well-known, and cancer patients are at a higher risk of COVID-19, emphasizing the need to prioritize this patient population. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignant cancers associated with early metastasis and poor prognosis. It has been established that cancerous tissues express Cathepsin L (CTSL), a proteinase that regulates cancer progression and SARS-CoV-2 entry. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the correlation between disease outcomes and CTSL expression in cancer tissues and predict the susceptibility of cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we used transcriptomic and genomic data to profile CTSL expression in HNSCC and developed a CTSL signature that could reflect the response of HNSCC patients to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between CTSL expression and immune cell infiltration and established CTSL as a potential carcinogenic factor for HNSCC patients. These findings could aid in understanding the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility of HNSCC patients to SARS-CoV-2 and contribute to the development of therapy for both HNSCC and COVID-19.

Keywords: CTSL; SARS-CoV-2; cathepsin L; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); immunotherapy.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Cathepsin L / genetics
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / genetics
Humans
SARS-CoV-2
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Substances

Cathepsin L

Grants and funding

This study was financially supported by the Key Fundamental Research Fund of Science and Technology Foundation of Shenzhen City (Grant No. JCYJ20210324094005015 and JCYJ20220818095811026), Start-up Research Fund of Shenzhen University for Youth Scholars (Grant No. 860-000002112112) and Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission stable support project (Grant No. 20220810174028001).