In face of the everlasting battle toward COVID-19 and the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2, no specific and effective drugs for treating this disease have been reported until today. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, mediates the virus infection by binding to spike protein. Although ACE2 is expressed in the lung, kidney, and intestine, its expressing levels are rather low, especially in the lung. Considering the great infectivity of COVID-19, we speculate that SARS-CoV-2 may depend on other routes to facilitate its infection. Here, we first discover an interaction between host cell receptor CD147 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The loss of CD147 or blocking CD147 in Vero E6 and BEAS-2B cell lines by anti-CD147 antibody, Meplazumab, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 amplification. Expression of human CD147 allows virus entry into non-susceptible BHK-21 cells, which can be neutralized by CD147 extracellular fragment. Viral loads are detectable in the lungs of human CD147 (hCD147) mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, but not in those of virus-infected wild type mice. Interestingly, virions are observed in lymphocytes of lung tissue from a COVID-19 patient. Human T cells with a property of ACE2 natural deficiency can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in a dose-dependent manner, which is specifically inhibited by Meplazumab. Furthermore, CD147 mediates virus entering host cells by endocytosis. Together, our study reveals a novel virus entry route, CD147-spike protein, which provides an important target for developing specific and effective drug against COVID-19.

Currently, COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been widely spread around the world; nevertheless, so far there exist no specific antiviral drugs for treatment of the disease, which poses great challenge to control and contain the virus. Here, we reported a research finding that SARS-CoV-2 invaded host cells via a novel route of CD147-spike protein (SP). SP bound to CD147, a receptor on the host cells, thereby mediating the viral invasion.Our further research confirmed this finding. First, in vitro antiviral tests indicated Meplazumab, an anti-CD147 humanized antibody, significantly inhibited the viruses from invading host cells, with an EC 50 of 24.86 μg/mL and IC 50 of 15.16 μg/mL. Second, we validated the interaction between CD147 and SP, with an affinity constant of 1.85×10 -7 M. Co-Immunoprecipitation and ELISA also confirmed the binding of the two proteins. Finally, the localization of CD147 and SP was observed in SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cells by immuno-electron microscope. Therefore, the discovery of the new route CD147-SP for SARS-CoV-2 invading host cells provides a critical target for development of specific antiviral drugs.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidases (Nox) have been implicated in the regulation of signal transduction. However, the cellular mechanisms that link Nox activation with plasma membrane receptor signaling remain poorly defined. We have found that Nox2-derived ROS influence the formation of an active interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor complex in the endosomal compartment by directing the H2O2-dependent binding of TRAF6 to the IL-1R1/MyD88 complex. Clearance of both superoxide and H2O2 from within the endosomal compartment significantly abrogated IL-1β-dependent IKK and NF-κB activation. MyD88-dependent endocytosis of IL-1R1 following IL-1β binding was required for the redox-dependent formation of an active endosomal receptor complex competent for IKK and NF-κB activation. Small interfering RNAs to either MyD88 or Rac1 inhibited IL-1β induction of endosomal superoxide and NF-κB activation. However, MyD88 and Rac1 appear to be recruited independently to IL-1R1 following ligand stimulation. In this context, MyD88 binding was required for inducing endocytosis of IL-1R1 following ligand binding, while Rac1 facilitated the recruitment of Nox2 into the endosomal compartment and subsequent redox-dependent recruitment of TRAF6 to the MyD88/IL-1R1 complex. The identification of Nox-active endosomes helps explain how subcellular compartmentalization of redox signals can be used to direct receptor activation from the plasma membrane.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental process hijacked by cancer cells to leave the primary tumor site, invade surrounding tissue, and establish distant metastases. A hallmark of EMT is the loss of E-cadherin expression, and one major signal for the induction of EMT is transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ, which is dysregulated in up to 40% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have constructed an EMT network of 70 nodes and 135 edges by integrating the signaling pathways involved in developmental EMT and known dysregulations in invasive HCC. We then used discrete dynamic modeling to understand the dynamics of the EMT network driven by TGFβ. Our network model recapitulates known dysregulations during the induction of EMT and predicts the activation of the Wnt and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathways during this process. We show, across multiple murine (P2E and P2M) and human HCC cell lines (Huh7, PLC/PRF/5, HLE, and HLF), that the TGFβ signaling axis is a conserved driver of mesenchymal phenotype HCC and confirm that Wnt and SHH signaling are induced in these cell lines. Furthermore, we identify by network analysis eight regulatory feedback motifs that stabilize the EMT process and show that these motifs involve cross-talk among multiple major pathways. Our model will be useful in identifying potential therapeutic targets for the suppression of EMT, invasion and metastasis in HCC.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has attracted considerable interest as a gene therapy vector over the past decade. In all, 85% of the current 2052 PubMed references on AAV (as of December 2004) have been published in the last 10 years. As researchers have moved forward with using this vector system for gene delivery, an increased appreciation for the complexities of AAV biology has emerged. The biology of recombinant AAV (rAAV) transduction has demonstrated considerable diversity in different cell types and target tissues. This review will summarize the current understanding of events that control rAAV transduction following receptor binding and leading to nuclear uptake. These stages are broadly classified as intracellular trafficking and have been found to be a major rate-limiting step in rAAV transduction for many cell types. Advances in understanding this area of rAAV biology will help to improve the efficacy of this vector system for the treatment of inherited and acquired diseases. Gene Therapy (2005) 12, 873-880.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is an important cell surface marker for both stem cells and cancer stem cells in various tissues including liver. CD133 expression has been recently linked to poor prognosis in HCC patients. CD1331 liver cancer cells are characterized by resistance to chemotherapy, self-renewal, multilineage potential, increased colony formation, and in vivo cancer initiation at limited dilution. Recent studies demonstrate that CD133 expression is regulated by DNA methylation. In this study, we explored the role of transforming growth factor b (TGFb), a multifunctional cytokine that plays a critical role in chronic liver injury, in the regulation of CD133 expression. TGFb1 is capable of up-regulating CD133 expression specifically within the Huh7 HCC cell line in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Most important, TGFb1-induced CD1331 Huh7 cells demonstrate increased tumor initiation in vivo. Forced expression of inhibitory Smads, including Smad6 and Smad7, attenuated TGFb1-induced CD133 expression. Within CD1332 Huh7 cells, TGFb1 stimulation inhibited the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) 1 and DNMT3b, which are critical in the maintenance of regional DNA methylation, and global DNMT activity in CD1332 Huh7 cells was inhibited by TGFb1. DNMT3b inhibition by TGFb1 was partially rescued with overexpression of inhibitory Smads. Lastly, TGFb1 treatment led to significant demethylation in CD133 promoter-1 in CD1332 Huh7 cells. Conclusion: TGFb1 is able to regulate CD133 expression through inhibition of DNMT1 and DNMT3b expression and subsequent demethylation of promoter-1. TGFb1-induced CD1331 Huh7 cells are tumorigenic. The mechanism by which TGFb induces CD133 expression is partially dependent on the Smads pathway. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;51:1635-1644 We have recently demonstrated that CD133 reliably identifies liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) in two independent murine models of chronic injury. [10][11][12] In the human HCC cell line Huh7, CD133þ cells demonstrated many stem cell-like properties including colony formation, self-renewal and differentiation ability, as well as a greater ability to initiate tumors in vivo compared to CD133À cells. 3Despite the high volume of recent publications related to CD133, little is known about the regulation

Glioma is a most common type of primary brain tumors. Extracellular vesicles, in the form of exosomes, are known to mediate cell-cell communication by transporting cell-derived proteins and nucleic acids, including various microRNAs (miRNAs). Here we examined the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with recurrent glioma for the levels of cancer-related miRNAs, and evaluated the values for prognosis by comparing the measures of CSF-, serum-, and exosome-contained miR-21 levels. Samples from seventy glioma patients following surgery were compared with those from brain trauma patients as a non-tumor control group. Exosomal miR-21 levels in the CSF of glioma patients were found significantly higher than in the controls; whereas no difference was detected in serum-derived exosomal miR-21 expression. The CSFderived exosomal miR-21 levels correlated with tumor spinal/ventricle metastasis and the recurrence with anatomical site preference. From additional 198 glioma tissue samples, we verified that miR-21 levels associated with tumor grade of diagnosis and negatively correlated with the median values of patient overall survival time. We further used a lentiviral inhibitor to suppress miR-21 expression in U251 cells. The results showed that the levels of miR-21 target genes of PTEN, RECK and PDCD4 were up-regulated at protein levels. Therefore, we concluded that the exosomal miR-21 levels could be demonstrated as a promising indicator for glioma diagnosis and prognosis, particularly with values to predict tumor recurrence or metastasis.

Background c-Met, a high-affinity receptor for Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), plays a critical role in cancer growth, invasion and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with an active HGF/c-Met signaling pathway have a significantly worse prognosis. Although targeting the HGF/c-Met pathway has been proposed for the treatment of multiple cancers, the effect of c-Met inhibition in HCC remains unclear. Human HCC cell lines, Huh7, Hep3B, MHCC97-L and MHCC97-H, were utilized in this study to investigate the effect of c-Met inhibition using the small molecule, selective c-Met tyrosine kinase inhibitor PHA665752. Results MHCC97-L and MHCC97-H cells demonstrate a mesenchymal phenotype with decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of c-Met, Fibronectin and Zeb2 compared to Huh7 and Hep3B cells, which have an epithelial phenotype. PHA665752 treatment blocked phosphorylation of c-Met and downstream PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk pathways, inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in c-Met positive MHCC97-L and MHCC97-H cells. In xenograft models, administration of PHA665752 significantly inhibited c-Met positive MHCC97-L and MHCC97-H tumor growth, and PHA665752 treated tumors demonstrated marked reduction of both c-Met phosphorylation and cell proliferation. c-Met negative Huh7 and Hep3B cells were not affected by c-Met inhibitor treatment in vitro or in vivo. In addition, c-Met positive MHCC97-L and MHCC97-H cells demonstrated cancer stem cell-like characteristics, such as resistance to chemotherapy, tumor sphere-formation, and increased expression of CD44 and ABCG2, and PHA665752 treatment suppressed tumor sphere-formation and inhibited CD44 expression. Conclusion c-Met represents a potential target of personalized treatment for HCC with an active HGF/c-Met pathway.