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Comment
. 2021 Aug 17;2(8):100380.
doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100380.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of islet β cells: Evidence and implications

Amy L Clark  1 , Raghavendra G Mirmira  2
Affiliations
Comment

SARS-CoV-2 infection of islet β cells: Evidence and implications

Amy L Clark et al. Cell Rep Med. .

Abstract

The health of insulin-producing β cells is critical for normoglycemia. Wu et al.1 and Tang et al.2 provide evidence in vitro that β cells can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus, possibly contributing to worsening hyperglycemia seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SARS-CoV-2 virus infects human β cells, causing cell death and transdifferentiation leading to reduced insulin output Upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus, human islets activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway (left) and the integrated stress response pathway (right), highlighted by key phosphorylation events (indicated by orange circles on JNK/p38, PKR, and eIF2alpha). Activation of these pathways lead to β cell apoptosis and transdifferentiation, respectively, resulting in decreased β cell insulin levels and lower glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; PAK, p21-activated kinase; PKR, protein kinase R; eIF2alpha, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

  • SARS-CoV-2 infects human pancreatic β cells and elicits β cell impairment.
    Wu CT, Lidsky PV, Xiao Y, Lee IT, Cheng R, Nakayama T, Jiang S, Demeter J, Bevacqua RJ, Chang CA, Whitener RL, Stalder AK, Zhu B, Chen H, Goltsev Y, Tzankov A, Nayak JV, Nolan GP, Matter MS, Andino R, Jackson PK. Wu CT, et al. Cell Metab. 2021 Aug 3;33(8):1565-1576.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.05.013. Epub 2021 May 18. Cell Metab. 2021. PMID: 34081912 Free PMC article.
  • SARS-CoV-2 infection induces beta cell transdifferentiation.
    Tang X, Uhl S, Zhang T, Xue D, Li B, Vandana JJ, Acklin JA, Bonnycastle LL, Narisu N, Erdos MR, Bram Y, Chandar V, Chong ACN, Lacko LA, Min Z, Lim JK, Borczuk AC, Xiang J, Naji A, Collins FS, Evans T, Liu C, tenOever BR, Schwartz RE, Chen S. Tang X, et al. Cell Metab. 2021 Aug 3;33(8):1577-1591.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.05.015. Epub 2021 May 19. Cell Metab. 2021. PMID: 34081913 Free PMC article.

References

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    1. Tang X., Uhl S., Zhang T., Xue D., Li B., Vandana J.J., Acklin J.A., Bonnycastle L.L., Narisu N., Erdos M.R. SARS-CoV-2 infection induces beta cell transdifferentiation. Cell Metab. 2021 doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.05.015. S1550-4131(21)00232-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
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