Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it has become a global pandemic. The spike (S) protein of etiologic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specifically recognizes human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as its receptor, which is recently identified as an interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene. Here, we find that hACE2 exists on the surface of exosomes released by different cell types, and the expression of exosomal hACE2 is increased by IFNα/β treatment. In particular, exosomal hACE2 can specifically block the cell entry of SARS-CoV-2, subsequently inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and ex vivo. Our findings have indicated that IFN is able to upregulate a viral receptor on the exosomes which competitively block the virus entry, exhibiting a potential antiviral strategy.
【저자키워드】 Microbiology, Innate immunity, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Treatment, coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, Exosome, coronavirus, Antiviral, interferon, in vitro, hACE2, global pandemic, Protein, outbreak, virus entry, IFN, receptor, expression, cell types, Ex vivo, acute respiratory syndrome, cell entry, human Angiotensin-converting enzyme, replication of SARS-CoV-2, indicated, inhibit, recognize, released, exhibiting, 【제목키워드】 hACE2, virus entry, SARS-CoV-2 replication, inhibit,