Neuropilin-1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 cell entry and infectivity

L Cantuti-Castelvetri, R Ojha, LD Pedro, M Djannatian… - Science, 2020 - science.org
L Cantuti-Castelvetri, R Ojha, LD Pedro, M Djannatian, J Franz, S Kuivanen, F van der Meer…
Science, 2020science.org
The causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For many viruses, tissue tropism is determined by
the availability of virus receptors and entry cofactors on the surface of host cells. In this study,
we found that neuropilin-1 (NRP1), known to bind furin-cleaved substrates, significantly
potentiates SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, an effect blocked by a monoclonal blocking antibody
against NRP1. A SARS-CoV-2 mutant with an altered furin cleavage site did not depend on …
The causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For many viruses, tissue tropism is determined by the availability of virus receptors and entry cofactors on the surface of host cells. In this study, we found that neuropilin-1 (NRP1), known to bind furin-cleaved substrates, significantly potentiates SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, an effect blocked by a monoclonal blocking antibody against NRP1. A SARS-CoV-2 mutant with an altered furin cleavage site did not depend on NRP1 for infectivity. Pathological analysis of olfactory epithelium obtained from human COVID-19 autopsies revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infected NRP1-positive cells facing the nasal cavity. Our data provide insight into SARS-CoV-2 cell infectivity and define a potential target for antiviral intervention.
AAAS