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Updated: Sep 27, 2025
Single-cell Transcriptomic Analyses of Mouse Pancreatic Endocrine Cells
Published on: September 30, 2018
Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Role of Pancreatic Secretome in COVID-19 Associated Multi-organ
Ekta Pathak1, Neelam Atri2,3, Rajeev Mishra4
1Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India. ektavpathak@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the lungs, heart, kidney, intestine, olfactory epithelia, liver, and pancreas and brings forward multi-organ dysfunctions (MODs). However, mechanistic details of SARS-CoV-2-induced MODs are unclear. Here, we have investigated the role of pancreatic secretory proteins to mechanistically link COVID-19 with MODs using single-cell transcriptome analysis. Secretory proteins were identified using the Human Protein Atlas. Gene ontology, pathway, and disease enrichment analyses were used to highlight the role of upregulated pancreatic secretory proteins (secretome). We show that SARS-CoV-2 infection shifts the expression profile of pancreatic endocrine cells to acinar and ductal cell-specific profiles, resulting in increased expression of acinar and ductal cell-specific genes. Among all the secretory proteins, the upregulated expression of IL1B, AGT, ALB, SPP1, CRP, SERPINA1, C3, TFRC, TNFSF10, and MIF was mainly associated with disease of diverse organs. Extensive literature and experimental evidence are used to validate the association of the upregulated pancreatic secretome with the coagulation cascade, complement activation, renin-angiotensinogen system dysregulation, endothelial cell injury and thrombosis, immune system dysregulation, and fibrosis. Our finding suggests the influence of an upregulated secretome on multi-organ systems such as nervous, cardiovascular, immune, digestive, and urogenital systems. Our study provides evidence that an upregulated pancreatic secretome is a possible cause of SARS-CoV-2-induced MODs. This finding may have a significant impact on the clinical setting regarding the prevention of SARS-CoV-2-induced MODs.
Insights
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes multi-organ dysfunction by altering pancreatic cells. Upregulated pancreatic secretory proteins link COVID-19 to organ damage, suggesting a novel therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Pathology
- Virology
Background:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to multi-organ dysfunction (MODs) affecting various organs.
- The precise mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2-induced MODs remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pancreatic secretory proteins in mechanistically linking COVID-19 with MODs.
- To identify specific pancreatic secretome components associated with organ dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell transcriptome analysis to examine gene expression changes in pancreatic cells.
- Identification of secretory proteins using the Human Protein Atlas.
- Gene ontology, pathway, and disease enrichment analyses for functional interpretation.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection alters pancreatic endocrine cells towards acinar and ductal cell-specific expression profiles.
- Upregulation of specific pancreatic secretory proteins (e.g., IL1B, AGT, ALB, CRP) is linked to diseases in multiple organs.
- The upregulated secretome is associated with coagulation, complement activation, renin-angiotensin system dysregulation, endothelial injury, and fibrosis.
Conclusions:
- An upregulated pancreatic secretome is a potential driver of SARS-CoV-2-induced multi-organ dysfunction.
- These findings highlight the pancreas as a key player in COVID-19 pathogenesis and MODs.
- This research may inform clinical strategies for preventing and managing COVID-19 complications.
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