Targeting lysophospholipid acid receptor 1 and ROCK kinases promotes antiviral innate immunity

Growing evidence indicates the vital role of lipid metabolites in innate immunity. The lipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) concentrations are enhanced in patients upon HCV or SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the function of LPA and its receptors in innate immunity is largely unknown. Here, we found that viral infection promoted the G protein–coupled receptor LPA1 expression, and LPA restrained type I/III interferon production through LPA1. Mechanistically, LPA1 signaling activated ROCK1/2, which phosphorylated IRF3 Ser⁹⁷ to suppress IRF3 activation. Targeting LPA1 or ROCK in macrophages, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and LPA1 conditional KO mice promoted interferon-induced clearance of multiple viruses. LPA1 was colocalized with the receptor ACE2 in lung and intestine. Together with previous findings that LPA1 and ROCK1/2 promoted vascular leaking or lung fibrosis, we propose that the current available preclinical drugs targeting the LPA1-ROCK module might protect from SARS-CoV-2 or various virus infections in the intestine or lung.