COVID-19 and Extracellular Vesicles: An Intriguing Interplay

Abstract

Background

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome β-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to become a long-lasting global health crisis. The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has surpassed 22 million globally, resulting in over 700,000 deaths with more than 15 million people having recovered ( https://covid19.who.int). Enormous efforts are underway for rapid vaccine and treatment developments. Amongst the many ways of tackling the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging.

Summary

EVs are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures secreted from all types of cells, including those lining the respiratory tract. They have established roles in lung immunity and are involved in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases, including viral infection. In this review, we point out the roles and possible contribution of EVs in viral infections, as well as ongoing EV-based approaches for the treatment of COVID-19, including clinical trials.

Key Messages

EVs share structural similarities to viruses and recent findings demonstrate that viruses exploit EVs for cellular exit and EVs exploit viral entry mechanisms for cargo delivery. Moreover, EV-virus interplay could be exploited for future antiviral drug and vaccine development. EV-based therapies, especially the mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs, are being intensively studied for the treatment of COVID-19.

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Kidney Blood Press Res

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Kidney Blood Press Res

Journal ID (publisher-id): KBR

Title: Kidney & Blood Pressure Research

Publisher: S. Karger AG (Allschwilerstrasse 10, P.O. Box · Postfach · Case postale, CH–4009, Basel, Switzerland · Schweiz · Suisse, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], [e-mail] )

ISSN (Print): 1420-4096

ISSN (Electronic): 1423-0143

Publication date (Electronic): 21 September 2020

Pages: 1-10

Affiliations

^aExtracellular Vesicles and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy

^bDepartment of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy

^cBiogem Research Institute, Ariano Irpino, Avellino, Italy

Author notes

*Gabriella Pocsfalvi, Extracellular Vesicles and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, Via P. Castellino 111, IT–80131 Napoli (Italy), gabriella.pocsfalvi@ 123456ibbr.cnr.it

Article

Publisher ID: kbr-0001

DOI: 10.1159/000511402

PMC ID: 7573892

PubMed ID: 32957112

Copyright statement: Copyright © 2020 by S. Karger AG, Basel

License:

This article is made available via the PMC Open Access Subset for unrestricted re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic or until permissions are revoked in writing. Upon expiration of these permissions, PMC is granted a perpetual license to make this article available via PMC and Europe PMC, consistent with existing copyright protections.

Page count

Figures: 2, Tables: 1, References: 50, Pages: 10

Categories

Subject: Review Article