AUTHOR=Zheng Guoping , Qiu Guanguan , Qian Huifeng , Shu Qiang , Xu Jianguo 

TITLE=Multifaceted role of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins in lung injury

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332440

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332440

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the third human coronavirus to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and contains four structural proteins: spike, envelope, membrane, and nucleocapsid. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that all four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are capable of causing lung injury, even without the presence of intact virus. Therefore, the topic of SARS-CoV-2 structural protein-evoked lung injury warrants more attention. In the current article, we first synopsize the structural features of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins. Second, we discuss the mechanisms for structural protein-induced inflammatory responses <italic>in vitro</italic>. Finally, we list the findings that indicate structural proteins themselves are toxic and sufficient to induce lung injury <italic>in vivo</italic>. Recognizing mechanisms of lung injury triggered by SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins may facilitate the development of targeted modalities in treating COVID-19.</p>