Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection of the respiratory system can evolve to a multi-system disease. Excessive levels of proinflammatory cytokines, known as a ‘cytokine storm’ are associated with high mortality rates especially in the elderly and in patients with age-related morbidities. Senescent cells, characterized by secretion of such cytokines (Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype - SASP), are known to occur in this context as well as upon a variety of stressogenic insults. Applying both: i) a novel “in house” antibody against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and ii) a unique senescence detecting methodology, we identified for the first time in lung tissue from COVID-19 patients alveolar cells acquiring senescent features harboring also SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, using the same detection workflow we demonstrated the inflammatory properties of these cells. Our findings justify the application of senotherapeutics for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 patients.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Footnotes
Funding: This work was supported by the: National Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Development and Investment / General Secretariat for Research and Technology, in the framework of the Flagship Initiative to address SARS-CoV-2 (2020ΣΕ01300001); Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie training program no. 722729 (SYNTRAIN); Welfare Foundation for Social & Cultural Sciences, Athens, Greece (KIKPE); H. Pappas donation; Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) grants no. 775 and 3782 and NKUA-SARG grant 70/3/8916.