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Blood group A enhances SARS-CoV-2 infection

Shang-Chuen Wu1, Connie M Arthur1, Hau-Ming Jan1

  • 1Department of Pathology, Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Blood
|June 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preferentially infects blood group A cells. This occurs because the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain specifically binds to blood group A antigens.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Glycobiology

Background:

  • ABO(H) blood group antigens are recognized risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
  • Mechanisms linking ABO(H) antigens to COVID-19 susceptibility are not fully understood.
  • The SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) shares similarities with galectins, which are carbohydrate-binding proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the glycan-binding specificity of SARS-CoV-2 RBD.
  • To compare SARS-CoV-2 RBD binding with that of galectins.
  • To elucidate the role of ABO(H) blood group antigens in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized glycan array analysis to compare binding profiles of SARS-CoV-2 RBD and galectins.
  • Assessed the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants (including Delta and Omicron) on blood group A-expressing cells.
  • Investigated the inhibitory effect of galectins on SARS-CoV-2 infection of blood group A cells.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 RBD, including Delta and Omicron variants, demonstrated specificity for blood group A.
  • SARS-CoV-2 viruses showed a preferential ability to infect blood group A-expressing cells.
  • A blood group-binding galectin inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection enhancement in blood group A cells, while a non-binding galectin did not.

Conclusions:

  • SARS-CoV-2 directly engages blood group A antigens.
  • This binding provides a direct mechanistic link between ABO(H) blood group expression and SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility.
  • The findings offer insights into host-pathogen interactions in COVID-19.

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