AUTHOR=Lécuyer Déborah , Nardacci Roberta , Tannous Désirée , Gutierrez-Mateyron Emie , Deva Nathan Aurélia , Subra Frédéric , Di Primio Cristina , Quaranta Paola , Petit Vanessa , Richetta Clémence , Mostefa-Kara Ali , Del Nonno Franca , Falasca Laura , Marlin Romain , Maisonnasse Pauline , Delahousse Julia , Pascaud Juliette , Deprez Eric , Naigeon Marie , Chaput Nathalie , Paci Angelo , Saada Véronique , Ghez David , Mariette Xavier , Costa Mario , Pistello Mauro , Allouch Awatef , Delelis Olivier , Piacentini Mauro , Le Grand Roger , Perfettini Jean-Luc TITLE=The purinergic receptor P2X7 and the NLRP3 inflammasome are druggable host factors required for SARS-CoV-2 infection JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1270081 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1270081 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

Purinergic receptors and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome regulate inflammation and viral infection, but their effects on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the purinergic receptor P2X7 and NLRP3 inflammasome are cellular host factors required for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Lung autopsies from patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reveal that NLRP3 expression is increased in host cellular targets of SARS-CoV-2 including alveolar macrophages, type II pneumocytes and syncytia arising from the fusion of infected macrophages, thus suggesting a potential role of NLRP3 and associated signaling pathways to both inflammation and viral replication. In vitro studies demonstrate that NLRP3-dependent inflammasome activation is detected upon macrophage abortive infection. More importantly, a weak activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is also detected during the early steps of SARS-CoV-2 infection of epithelial cells and promotes the viral replication in these cells. Interestingly, the purinergic receptor P2X7, which is known to control NLRP3 inflammasome activation, also favors the replication of D614G and alpha SARS-CoV-2 variants. Altogether, our results reveal an unexpected relationship between the purinergic receptor P2X7, the NLRP3 inflammasome and the permissiveness to SARS-CoV-2 infection that offers novel opportunities for COVID-19 treatment.