Host factor PLAC8 is required for pancreas infection by SARS-CoV-2

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, but SARS-CoV-2 also infects the pancreas.
• The severity and mechanisms of pancreatic SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear.
• This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 pancreatic infection and the role of the host factor PLAC8.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if pancreatic enzymes can stratify COVID-19 patient severity.
• To investigate the expression of SARS-CoV-2 and PLAC8 in pancreatic tissue.
• To elucidate the role of PLAC8 in SARS-CoV-2 pancreatic infection.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of plasma pancreatic enzymes and inflammatory markers in 120 COVID-19 patients.
• Postmortem analysis of pancreatic tissue from COVID-19 patients and healthy donors for SARS-CoV-2 and PLAC8 expression.
• In vitro experiments using pseudovirus and SARS-CoV-2 infection models in PLAC8-knockout cell lines.

Main Results:

• Elevated pancreatic enzymes correlated with COVID-19 severity and predicted outcomes.
• PLAC8 expression was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in postmortem pancreatic tissues.
• PLAC8 is essential for productive SARS-CoV-2 infection in pancreatic cells.

Conclusions:

• The pancreas is a SARS-CoV-2 target organ with potential for injury.
• The host factor PLAC8 is required for SARS-CoV-2 pancreatic infection.
• PLAC8 presents a potential therapeutic target for managing COVID-19-associated pancreatic pathogenesis.