Journal: Journal of Biomedical Science
Article Title: The ACE2 decoy receptor can overcome immune escape by rapid mutating SARS-CoV-2 variants and reduce cytokine induction and clot formation
doi: 10.1186/s12929-025-01156-4
Figure Lengend Snippet: Blocking of SARS-CoV-2 induced cytotoxicity, cytokine release and clot formation by ACE2-Fc. A The cytotoxicity in H1650-ACE2 cells. The cytotoxic effects observed in cells infected with different SARS-CoV-2 variants over 24 and 48 h. After the infection period, the supernatant was collected to measure cell damage, using Triton-X100 treated cells serving as the 100% cytotoxicity control. B Cytokine levels in PBMCs post-infection. After 48 h of infection in H1650-ACE2 cells, the supernatants were used to treat PBMCs, and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were measured. *Significant differences compared to the MOCK group. P < 0.05. C Inhibition of cytotoxicity by ACE2-Fc. Pre-treatment with ACE2-Fc significantly reduces the cytotoxic effects in H1650-ACE2 cells infected with various coronavirus variants 48 h post-infection. D Reduction of cytokine release by ACE2-Fc. ACE2-Fc treatment effectively decreases the release of IL-6 and TNF-α by PBMCs that were exposed to supernatants from infected H1650-ACE2 cells. Data are presented as mean ± SD from three replicates. Statistical analysis was performed by One-Way ANOVA with multiple comparisons *P < 0.05. E The turbidity of human plasma clot formation with D614G, Delta, and BA.5 spike. F – H The effect of ACE2-Fc treatment on plasma clot formation induced by the D614G ( F ), Delta ( G ), and BA.5 H Spike proteins. I Effect of ACE2-Fc co-treatment with Spike antibody on plasma clot formation. ( J ) Effect of ACE2-Fc co-treatment with the ACE2 catalytic inhibitor MLN-4760 on plasma clot formation. E – J show representative results, with similar trends observed in three independent experiments
Article Snippet: For the ACE2-Fc treatment groups, trimeric Spike protein was pre-incubated for 15 min with ACE2-Fc alone, ACE2-Fc plus Spike antibody (Genetex), or ACE2-Fc plus the ACE2 catalytic inhibitor MLN-4760 (MedChemExpress), prior to mixing with plasma and initiating clot formation.
Techniques: Blocking Assay, Infection, Control, Inhibition, Clinical Proteomics