Importance of Apolipoprotein A-I and A-II Composition in HDL and Its Potential for Studying COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The composition and properties of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apoA-II in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) might be critical to SARS-CoV-2 infection via SR-BI and antiviral activity against COVID-19. HDL containing native apoA-I showed potent antiviral activity, while HDL containing glycated apoA-I or other apolipoproteins did not. However, there has been no report to elucidate the putative role of apoA-II in the antiviral activity of HDL.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; apoA-I; apoA-II; glycation; high-density lipoproteins.

Figure 1

Different properties of apoA-I and apoA-II in HDL from different sources. Image of SDS-PAGE stained by Coomassie blue. (A) Electrophoretic patterns of native HDL (lane 1), purified from healthy and young Korean subjects by sequential ultracentrifugation. Glycated HDL (lane 2) was fructosylated for 72 h. M, molecular weight standard (Bio-Rad, low range, Cat # 1610304). (B) Electrophoretic patterns of commercial HDL (Sigma L8039, lot # SLCF0413). This gel photograph (12% Tris-Glycine gel, Invitrogen cat # XP00120) was courteously provided by Research & Applied Solutions of Merck/Sigma-Aldrich with permission. Lane M, molecular weight standard. Precision Plus Protein Unstained Standards (Bio-Rad cat # 161-0363).