Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storm is closely associated with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)severity and lethality.However,drugs that are effective against inflammat...Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storm is closely associated with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)severity and lethality.However,drugs that are effective against inflammation to treat lethal COVID-19 are still urgently needed.Here,we constructed a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific CAR,and human T cells infected with this CAR(SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T)and stimulated with spike protein mimicked the T-cell responses seen in COVID-19 patients,causing cytokine storm and displaying a distinct memory,exhausted,and regulatory T-cell phenotype.THP1 remarkably augmented cytokine release in SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T cells when they were in coculture.Based on this"two-cell"(CAR-T and THP1 cells)model,we screened an FDA-approved drug library and found that felodipine,fasudil,imatinib,and caspofungin were effective in suppressing the release of cytokines,which was likely due to their ability to suppress the NF-kB pathway in vitro.Felodipine,fasudi,imatinib,and caspofungin were further demonstrated,although to different extents,to attenuate lethal inflammation,ameliorate severe pneumonia,and prevent mortality in a SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamster model,which were also linked to their suppressive role in inflammation.In summary,we established a SARS-CoV-2-specific CAR-T-cell model that can be utilized as a tool for anti-inflammatory drug screening in a fast and high-throughput manner.The drugs identified herein have great potential for early treatment to prevent COVID-19 patients from cytokine storm-induced lethality in the clinic because they are safe,inexpensive,and easily accessible for immediateuseinmostcountries.展开更多
基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(20720200104)to LXthe Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2020YFA0112300 and 2020YFA0803600)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82125028,U22A20320,91953114,31871319,81761128015,and 81861130370)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China(2020J02004)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University(20720190145 and 20720220003)to WLthe China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M720119)to ZZZ.Part of Fig.6 was drawnbyusingFigdraw.
文摘Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)-induced cytokine storm is closely associated with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)severity and lethality.However,drugs that are effective against inflammation to treat lethal COVID-19 are still urgently needed.Here,we constructed a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific CAR,and human T cells infected with this CAR(SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T)and stimulated with spike protein mimicked the T-cell responses seen in COVID-19 patients,causing cytokine storm and displaying a distinct memory,exhausted,and regulatory T-cell phenotype.THP1 remarkably augmented cytokine release in SARS-CoV-2-S CAR-T cells when they were in coculture.Based on this"two-cell"(CAR-T and THP1 cells)model,we screened an FDA-approved drug library and found that felodipine,fasudil,imatinib,and caspofungin were effective in suppressing the release of cytokines,which was likely due to their ability to suppress the NF-kB pathway in vitro.Felodipine,fasudi,imatinib,and caspofungin were further demonstrated,although to different extents,to attenuate lethal inflammation,ameliorate severe pneumonia,and prevent mortality in a SARS-CoV-2-infected Syrian hamster model,which were also linked to their suppressive role in inflammation.In summary,we established a SARS-CoV-2-specific CAR-T-cell model that can be utilized as a tool for anti-inflammatory drug screening in a fast and high-throughput manner.The drugs identified herein have great potential for early treatment to prevent COVID-19 patients from cytokine storm-induced lethality in the clinic because they are safe,inexpensive,and easily accessible for immediateuseinmostcountries.
