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The novel coronavirus is known to affect people in many different ways, some of which have had a serious infection and some of which have not. Now, a recent study suggests that the amount of cholesterol a person carries may be the key factor in the severity of COVID-19 infection.
“We find that the S1 subunit of SARS-2-S binds to cholesterol and possibly HDL components to enhance viral uptake in vitro.
“Our results reveal that type B 1 acts as a host factor that promotes the entry of SARS-CoV-2 and can help explain viral tropism, identify a possible molecular connection between COVID-19 and lipoprotein metabolism. and highlighting type B 1 as a potential therapeutic target to interfere with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“Type B 1 is a cell-surface HDL receptor that mediates the selective uptake of cholesterol esters and other lipid components of receptor-bound HDL particles.”
The study concluded that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein binds to cholesterol and HDL enhances the entry of SARS-CoV-2 via the SARS-2-S1 protein
The researchers then found that blocking type B 1 and neutralizing it inhibited the infection.
They say targeting the type B 1 receptor could be a potential avenue for future treatments.
The researchers wrote about this finding and said: “The results of our study demonstrate that SR-B1 facilitates cell attachment, entry and infection of SARS-CoV-2.
“Therefore, type B 1 could represent a therapeutic target for limiting SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
In another study published in the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the human class B scavenger receptor type 1 was investigated as a new candidate receptor for the hepatitis C virus.
The study noted: “The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor has been shown to mediate HCV internalization through binding to virus-associated LDL particles, a phenomenon common to many viruses which, such as HCV , belong to the Flaviviridae family.
“We have identified the receptor responsible for E2 binding to human liver cells as the human class B type I scavenger receptor (SR-BI).
“The E2-SR-BI interaction is very selective as neither mouse SR-BI nor the closely related human scavenger receptor CD36 was able to bind E2.”
The study also pointed to the potential power of type B of 1 in helping reduce the risk of the coronavirus sticking to cholesterol and thereby reducing the severity of an infection.
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