SARS-CoV proteins decrease levels and activity of human ENaC via activation of distinct PKC isoforms

Among the multiple organ disorders caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), acute lung failure following atypical pneumonia is the most serious and often fatal event. We hypothesized that two of the hydrophilic structural coronoviral proteins (S and E) would regulate alveolar fluid clearance by decreasing the cell surface expression and activity of amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium ([Na.sup.+]) channels (ENaC), the rate-limiting protein in transepithelial [Na.sup.+] vectorial transport across distal lung epithelial cells. Coexpression of either S or E protein with human [alpha]-, [beta]-, and [gamma]-ENaC in Xenopus oocytes led to significant decreases of both amiloride-sensitive [Na.sub.+] currents and [gamma]-ENaC protein levels at their plasma membranes. S and E proteins decreased the rate of ENaC exocytosis and either had no effect (S) or decreased (E) rates of endocytosis. No direct interactions among SARS-CoV E protein with either [alpha]- or [gamma]-ENaC were indentified. Instead, the downregulation of ENaC activity by SARS proteins was partially or completely restored by administration of inhibitors of PKC[alpha]/[beta]1 and PKC[zeta]. Consistent with the whole cell data, expression of S and E proteins decreased ENaC single-channel activity in oocytes, and these effects were partially abrogated by PKC[alpha]/[beta]1 inhibitors. Finally, transfection of human airway epithelial (H441) cells with SARS E protein decreased whole cell amiloride-sensitive currents. These findings indicate that lung edema in SARS infection may be due at least in part to activation of PKC by SARS proteins, leading to decreasing levels and activity of ENaC at the apical surfaces of lung epithelial cells. Xenopus oocytes; voltage clamp; cell-attached patches; amiloride-sensitive currents; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus; surface epithelial sodium channels; H441 cells