Intestinal barrier dysfunction as a key driver of severe COVID-19

Abstract

The intestinal lumen harbors a diverse consortium of microorganisms that participate in reciprocal crosstalk with intestinal immune cells and with epithelial and endothelial cells, forming a multi-layered barrier that enables the efficient absorption of nutrients without an excessive influx of pathogens. Despite being a lung-centered disease, severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects multiple systems, including the gastrointestinal tract and the pertinent gut barrier function. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can inflict either direct cytopathic injury to intestinal epithelial and endothelial cells or indirect immune-mediated damage. Alternatively, SARS-CoV-2 undermines the structural integrity of the barrier by modifying the expression of tight junction proteins. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 induces profound alterations to the intestinal microflora at phylogenetic and metabolomic levels (dysbiosis) that are accompanied by disruption of local immune responses. The ensuing dysregulation of the gut-lung axis impairs the ability of the respiratory immune system to elicit robust and timely responses to restrict viral infection. The intestinal vasculature is vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2-induced endothelial injury, which simultaneously triggers the activation of the innate immune and coagulation systems, a condition referred to as "immunothrombosis" that drives severe thrombotic complications. Finally, increased intestinal permeability allows an aberrant dissemination of bacteria, fungi, and endotoxin into the systemic circulation and contributes, to a certain degree, to the over-exuberant immune responses and hyper-inflammation that dictate the severe form of COVID-19. In this review, we aim to elucidate SARS-CoV-2-mediated effects on gut barrier homeostasis and their implications on the progression of the disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dysbiosis; Gut-lung axis; Immunothrombosis; Intestinal barrier; SARS-CoV-2.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of intestinal barrier dysfunction in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with a multifaceted dysfunction of the gut barrier as it exerts detrimental effects on all of its major levels of defense. A: Systemic inflammation, an imbalance of interferon (IFN) responses, hypoxia or low blood flow, and reduced caloric intake, due to coronavirus disease 2019-associated cachexia, contribute to intestinal microbiome alterations. Gut dysbiosis is characterized by an overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens, which are a source of harmful substances, e.g., endotoxin, peptidoglycan, β-glucan, as well as a depletion of commensal microorganisms, which synthesize beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids; B: SARS-CoV-2 induces either direct cytopathic injury to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and endothelial cells, or indirect immune-mediated damage, or both. Moreover, the secretion of mucin glycoproteins, the fundamental element of the mucus layer, is severely impaired. In addition, the virus undermines the expression of tight junction and adherens junction proteins, leading to increased paracellular permeability and structural destabilization of the epithelium and endothelium. Viral interference with ACE2 signaling attenuates the activity of the amino acid transporter B0AT1, which is necessary for intestinal absorption of tryptophan (TRP). As a result, TRP depletion downregulates the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, which promotes the expression of antimicrobial peptides. The overwhelming intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocytes trigger the apoptosis of IECs, which is followed by reactive regeneration. In parallel, disease-activated and apoptotic endothelial cells are potent drivers of neutrophil/monocyte recruitment, platelet aggregation, and coagulation activation; C: Commensal-derived metabolites modulate innate immune responses by inducing tolerogenic dendritic cells and M2-polarized macrophages. SARS-CoV-2-induced dysbiosis eliminates these immunoregulatory effects, inhibits T regulatory (Treg) cell activity, and suppresses the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta. The release of damage-associated molecular patterns from injured cells and the influx of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, as a result of leaky gut, orchestrate the recruitment and activation of innate immune cells that secrete pro-inflammatory mediators (IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12). Subsequently, this pro-inflammatory microenvironment precipitates the derangement of adaptive immune responses, as demonstrated by increased trafficking of gut-homing T cells and effector T cell predominance. Furthermore, interruption of B-cell metabolism, plasma cell differentiation, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) class switching impede the effective secretion of protective dimeric IgA. This multi-layered disruption of intestinal barrier integrity allows the dissemination of intraluminal bacteria and endotoxin into the mesenteric lymphatic vessel or/and into the systemic circulation (created with biorender.com). IEL: Intraepithelial lymphocyte; LPS: Lipopolysaccharides; MUC2: Mucin 2; NETs: Neutrophil extracellular traps; PLTs: Platelets; RA: Retinoic acid; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; sIgA: Secretory immunoglobulin A; SCFAs: Short-chain fatty acids.

Figure 2

Overview of the sequelae of gut barrier dysfunction in severe coronavirus disease 2019: dysregulation of lung immune responses and establishment of a prothrombotic state. A: Although the intestinal and respiratory tracts are anatomically distinct compartments, their mucosal immune cells and microbial ecosystems participate in a bidirectional immunological crosstalk (gut-lung axis). An intact intestinal barrier is pivotal in maintaining lung microbiome homeostasis and fine-tuning the respiratory immune system to elicit potent antiviral responses in the case of infection. Commensal bacteria provide tonic stimulation (through the production of pattern-recognition receptor-ligands, desaminotyrosine, short-chain fatty acids, etc.) of the epithelial, stromal, and innate immune cells of the lungs and modulate the steady-state interferon-signature, which is essential for suppressing the early phase of viral proliferation. In addition, gut-derived signals and metabolites orchestrate the effective priming of adaptive immune responses by inducing the differentiation of virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and antibody-secreting plasma cells, which are responsible for viral control and clearance in the later stages of infection. In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), gut barrier dysfunction and depletion of symbiotic microorganisms eliminate the aforementioned immunomodulatory effects and compromise the ability of the respiratory immune system to effectively contain severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection; B: The gut vascular bed has a massive endothelial surface that is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 can inflict direct injury to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing endothelial cells; interruption of ACE2 signaling can dysregulate both the renin-angiotensin and kinin-kallikrein systems, leading to vascular leakage. The activated or apoptotic endothelial cells release phosphatidylserine-rich endothelial microparticles and secrete large amounts of tissue factor, VIIIa, von Willebrand factor, and other procoagulant cofactors. Circulating platelets accumulate at sites of vascular injury, adhere to each other, and become activated, leading to further secretion of prothrombotic substances. Overexpression of adhesion molecules, such as P-selectin, facilitates the recruitment and activation of monocytes and other leukocytes, including neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-producing neutrophils. COVID-19-associated immunothrombosis refers to this concurrent aberrant activation of the innate immune and coagulation systems, which predisposes to serious thrombotic complications. This vicious cycle can be further exacerbated by gut barrier dysfunction. Low-grade endotoxemia, due to increased intestinal permeability, enhances the activation of endothelial cells and platelets by inducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and LPS/TRL4 downstream signaling pathways. In parallel, LPS is a potent driver of NET formation. Several other bacterial lipoproteins, such as peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (Pal) or Pam³Cys, aggravate vascular leakage and precipitate thrombus formation through TLR2 activation. Moreover, translocation of fungal components, such as β-glucan, could directly stimulate leukocytes and promote inflammation by binding to the Dectin-1 receptor and activating the nuclear factor-κB pathway. Finally, gut dysbiosis is associated with trimethylamine N-oxide overproduction, which is a recognized risk factor for clotting events as it enhances platelet hyperresponsiveness, endothelial dysfunction, and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome activation (created with biorender.com). AngII: Angiotensin II; DCs: Dendritic cells; ECs: Endothelial cells; NK cells: Natural killer cells; NO: Nitric oxide; PLT: Platelet; DAT: Desaminotyrosine; SCFAs: Short-chain fatty acids; PRRs: Pattern recognition receptors.