Therapeutic potency of compound RMY-205 for pulmonary fibrosis induced by SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein
Pulmonary fibrosis is a typical sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is linked with a poor prognosis for COVID-19 patients. However, the underlying mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unclear. Here, we demonstrat...
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Published in | Cell chemical biology Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 261 - 277.e8 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Elsevier Ltd
16.03.2023
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Pulmonary fibrosis is a typical sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is linked with a poor prognosis for COVID-19 patients. However, the underlying mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 induced pulmonary fibrosis by activating pulmonary fibroblasts. N protein interacted with the transforming growth factor β receptor I (TβRI), to disrupt the interaction of TβRI-FK506 Binding Protein12 (FKBP12), which led to activation of TβRI to phosphorylate Smad3 and boost expression of pro-fibrotic genes and secretion of cytokines to promote pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, we identified a compound, RMY-205, that bound to Smad3 to disrupt TβRI-induced Smad3 activation. The therapeutic potential of RMY-205 was strengthened in mouse models of N protein-induced pulmonary fibrosis. This study highlights a signaling pathway of pulmonary fibrosis induced by N protein and demonstrates a novel therapeutic strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis by a compound targeting Smad3.
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•SARS-CoV-2-encoded N protein induces pulmonary fibrosis by activating lung fibroblasts•N protein disrupts the interaction of TβRI-FKBP12 to activate TβRI-Smad signaling•Compound RMY-205 binds to Smad3 to impair N protein-induced Smad3 activation•RMY-205 has good therapeutic potential for pulmonary fibrosis induced by N protein
Pulmonary fibrosis is a typical sequela of COVID-19. Zhang et al. demonstrate that the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 induces pulmonary fibrosis by activating TβRI-Smad signaling in lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, they identify a compound, RMY-205, that inhibits N protein-activated Smad3 and has good therapeutic potential for N protein-induced pulmonary fibrosis. |
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Bibliography: | These authors contributed equally Lead contact |
ISSN: | 2451-9456 2451-9448 2451-9456 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.02.004 |