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AID and APOBECs as Multifaceted Intrinsic Virus-Restricting Factors: Emerging Concepts in the Light of COVID-19

Anastasia Meshcheryakova1, Peter Pietschmann1, Philip Zimmermann2

  • 1Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Frontiers in Immunology
|July 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit (APOBEC) family are key antiviral systems. Their role in COVID-19, including APOBEC4 expression and AID in antibody production, is explored.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID)/apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit (APOBEC) family acts as an intrinsic host antiviral system against various viruses, including coronaviruses.
  • These enzymes are cytosine-to-uracil deaminases; AID is crucial for humoral immune responses, while APOBECs restrict viral replication through diverse mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the connection between AID/APOBECs and SARS-CoV-2.
  • To investigate the role of APOBEC4 expression in SARS-CoV-2 targeted cells and AID's function in lymphoid structures related to antibody production.
  • To propose analyzing AID/APOBECs gene signatures and polymorphisms for understanding patient-specific antiviral responses to COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Expression analysis of APOBEC4 in cell types and anatomical regions susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.
  • Focus on lymphoid structures and AID's role in germinal center reactions and antibody production.
  • Proposal for dissecting AID/APOBECs gene signatures and mapping patient-specific polymorphisms.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of high APOBEC4 expression in cells and tissues targeted by SARS-CoV-2.
  • Highlighting AID's critical role as a master regulator in germinal center reactions, leading to antibody production by B cells.
  • Identification of potential patient-specific determinants for antiviral response based on AID/APOBECs.

Conclusions:

  • The AID/APOBEC family plays a significant role in the host's antiviral defense against SARS-CoV-2.
  • APOBEC4 expression patterns and AID's function in adaptive immunity are relevant to COVID-19 pathogenesis.
  • Analyzing AID/APOBEC gene signatures and polymorphisms may offer insights into individual COVID-19 responses and therapeutic strategies.

Keywords:
AIDAID/APOBECs gene expression signatureAPOBEC4APOBECsCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2germinal centerlymphoid structures

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