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Animal Coronaviruses Induced Apoptosis
Katerina Gioti1, Christine Kottaridi1,2, Chrysa Voyiatzaki1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 3, 2021
Summary
Coronaviruses manipulate programmed cell death (apoptosis) to replicate. Understanding these viral-host interactions is key to developing new antiviral therapies targeting apoptotic pathways.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a crucial innate immune mechanism that restricts viral proliferation.
- Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, are known to disrupt cellular homeostasis and induce apoptosis.
- Modulation of apoptotic pathways is vital for efficient viral replication and propagation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and critically analyze the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis regulation during animal coronavirus infections.
- To explore the intricate viral-host interactions involved in modulating programmed cell death.
- To identify potential antiviral targets within apoptotic signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and critical analysis of existing research on coronaviruses and apoptosis.
- Examination of molecular mechanisms underlying virus-induced cell death.
- Synthesis of information on viral protein interactions with host apoptotic pathways.
Main Results:
- Coronaviruses employ common molecular mechanisms to induce apoptosis across diverse clades, cell types, and hosts.
- Viral manipulation of apoptotic pathways is essential for viral replication and spread.
- Host cell apoptosis is a significant factor in the innate immune response to coronavirus infection.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis plays a critical role in the host response to coronavirus infection.
- Understanding the molecular regulation of apoptosis during infection is crucial for future research.
- Investigating viral proteins' roles in apoptosis can lead to the discovery of novel antiviral targets.
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