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Dysregulated immune cell responses have been linked to the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the specific viral factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were currently unknown. Herein, we reveal that the Immunoglobulin-like fold ectodomain of the viral protein SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a interacts with high efficiency to CD14+ monocytes in human peripheral blood, compared to pathogenic protein SARS-CoV ORF7a. The crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a at 2.2 Å resolution reveals three remarkable changes on the amphipathic side of the four-stranded β-sheet, implying a potential functional interface of the viral protein. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a coincubation with CD14+ monocytes ex vivo triggered a decrease in HLA-DR/DP/DQ expression levels and upregulated significant production of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α. Our work demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a is an immunomodulating factor for immune cell binding and triggers dramatic inflammatory responses, providing promising therapeutic drug targets for pandemic COVID-19., Graphical abstract, Immunology; Virology

Dysregulated immune cell responses have been linked to the severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the specific viral factor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contributing to the immune-dysregulation is currently unclear. Herein, we identified the ectodomain of Ig-like fold viral proteinSARS-CoV-2 Orf7a interacted with CD14+ monocytes at the highest efficiency in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but not for the relative highly pathogenic protein SARS-CoV Orf7a. The 2.2 A resolutioncrystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 Orf7a reveals three remarkable changes in the amphipathic side of the four-strand β-sheet, implying the potential functional interface of the viral protein. Structure-based superimposition of SARS-CoV-2 Orf7a with SARS-CoV Orf7a - LFA1 working model suggests that SARS-CoV-2 Orf7a utilizes different binding patterns to recognize the specific immune cells. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 Orf7a co-incubation with CD14+ monocytes ex vivo triggers a decrease of HLA-DR/DP/DQ and significant pro-inflammatory cytokines expressions, including IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α. Our work demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 Orf7a is an immunomodulating factor for immune cells binding and trigging aberrant inflammatory responses, providing promising therapeutic drug targets in the pandemic disease COVID-19. Funding: This work is supported by the National Key RD the Special Fund for Scientific and Technological Innovation Strategy of Guangdong Province of China (2018B030306029), COVID-19 Emerging Prevention Products, Research Special Fund of Zhuhai City (ZH22036302200016PWC) granted to S.C.; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (19ykzd36) granted to J.C; and the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (202002030069) granted to J.C. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethical Approval: The human peripheral blood samples for the experiments were collected through The Health Management Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. This study was approved by The Medical Ethics Committee of The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (2020-K195-1).

3′ end processing is required for the maturation of all eukaryotic RNAs. Current model suggests that canonical mRNA 3′ processing is carried out exclusively within a protein complex termed mRNA 3′ processing complex. In a recent study, by using RNA-biotin based pull-down assay and high-throughput sequencing, we reported that a subset of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) were physically associated with this macromolecular machinery. Through detailed characterization of one of these snoRNAs, SNORD50A, we revealed that non-coding RNA, such as snoRNA, may play a regulatory role in mRNA 3′ processing. Our results provided novel insight into both the regulatory mechanism of mRNA 3′ processing and the non-canonical functions of snoRNAs.

mRNA 3′ end processing is an essential step in gene expression. It is well established that canonical eukaryotic pre-mRNA 3′ processing is carried out within a macromolecular machinery consisting of dozens of trans-acting proteins. However, it is unknown whether RNAs play any role in this process. Unexpectedly, we found that a subset of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are associated with the mammalian mRNA 3′ processing complex. These snoRNAs primarily interact with Fip1, a component of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF). We have functionally characterized one of these snoRNAs and our results demonstrated that the U/A-rich SNORD50A inhibits mRNA 3′ processing by blocking the Fip1-poly(A) site (PAS) interaction. Consistently, SNORD50A depletion altered the Fip1–RNA interaction landscape and changed the alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiles and/or transcript levels of a subset of genes. Taken together, our data revealed a novel function for snoRNAs and provided the first evidence that non-coding RNAs may play an important role in regulating mRNA 3′ processing.

// Yongpeng Tong 1 , Chunliu Huang 2 and Junfang Zhang 3 1 College of Physics and Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China 2 School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China 3 School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518060, China Correspondence to: Junfang Zhang, email: junfang.zhang@163.com Keywords: cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex, EGFR-TKI, thermal therapy, NSCLC Received: February 01, 2017 Accepted: April 21, 2017 Published: May 05, 2017 ABSTRACT Purpose: Although EGFR-TKIs (epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors) induce favorable responses as first-line non-small cell lung cancer treatments, drug resistance remains a serious problem. Meanwhile, thermal therapy also shows promise as a cancer therapy strategy. Here we combine a novel EGFR-TKI treatment with thermal therapy to improve lung cancer treatment outcomes. Results: The results suggest that the cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex effectively inhibits EGFR auto-phosphorylation, while inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro . Compared to the negative control, tumor growth was significantly suppressed in mice treated with oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler thyroxine sodium and either cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex or cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the body temperature increase induced by treatment with thyroxine sodium inhibited tumor growth. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that A549 cell apoptosis was significantly higher in the cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex plus thyroxine sodium treatment group than in the other groups. Moreover,Ca 2+ content analysis showed that the Ca 2+ content of tumor tissue was significantly higher in the cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex plus thyroxine sodium treatment group than in other groups. Materials and Methods: Inhibition of EGFR auto-phosphorylation by cAMP and cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex was studied using autoradiography and western blot. The antitumor activity of the novel EGFR inhibitor (cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex) with or without an oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler (thyroxine sodium) was investigated in vitro and in a nude mouse xenograft lung cancer model incorporating human A549 cells. Conclusions: cAMP-H 3 BO 3 complex is a novel EGFR-TKI. Combination therapy using cAMP-H 3 BO 3 with thyroxine sodium-induced thermal therapy may improve lung cancer treatment outcomes.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

It is increasingly appreciated that U1 snRNP transcriptomically suppresses the usage of intronic polyadenylation site (PAS) of mRNAs, an outstanding question is why frequently used PASs are not suppressed. Here we found that U1 snRNP could be transiently associated with sequences upstream of actionable PASs in human cells, and RNA-RNA interaction might contribute to the association. By focusing on individual PAS, we showed that the stable assembly of U1 snRNP near PAS might be generally required for U1 inhibition of mRNA 3' processing. Therefore, actionable PASs that often lack optimal U1 snRNP docking site nearby is free from U1 inhibitory effect. Consistently, natural 5' splicing site (5'-SS) is moderately enriched ~250 nt upstream of intronic PASs whose usage is sensitive to functional knockdown of U1 snRNA. Collectively, our results provided an insight into how U1 snRNP selectively inhibits the usage of PASs in a cellular context, and supported a prevailing model that U1 snRNP scans pre-mRNA through RNA-RNA interaction to find a stable interaction site to exercise its function in pre-mRNA processing, including repressing the usage of cryptic PASs.

EGFR may induce DNA degradation. This activity had not been previously described as an EGRF function. To confirm this unexpected activity, testing of EGFR in the presence of ATP and either 5A, 5C, 5G, 5T, or 5U oligonucleotides was performed. HPLC-MS analysis demonstrated that 5A and 5U levels significantly decreased in the presence of EGFR. Furthermore, fragments 4A and 4U were produced in 5A+EGFR+ATP and in 5U+EGFR+ATP reaction mixtures, respectively, but not in EGFR-negative controls. Degradation of Poly(A), Poly(C), Poly(G), Poly(I), Poly(T), and Poly(U) oligomers in the presence of EGFR and ATP correlated with the lower ability of reaction products to pair with complementary oligonucleotides. Gel electrophoresis showed that breakdown products migrated more quickly than controls, especially after addition of paired (complementary) oligomers, Poly(A) and Poly(U). Furthermore, λ DNA reaction products also migrated more quickly after incubation with EGFR. The results suggest that EGFR can induce breakage of certain types of nucleotide phosphodiester bonds, especially within the A residues of DNA or U residues of RNA, to induce DNA or RNA decomposition, respectively. This activity may be important in EGRF signaling, DNA degradation, or repair in normal or cancer cell activities.