A novel subset of putative stem/progenitor CD34+Oct-4+ cells is the major target for SARS coronavirus in human lung.
Identification of the nature of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-infected cells is crucial toward understanding the pathogenesis. Using multicolor colocalization techniques, we previously reported that SARS(+) cells in the lung of fatally infected patients expressed the only known functional receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and also a binding receptor, liver/lymph node-specific ICAM-3-grabbing non-integrin (CD209L). In this study, we show that SARS-infected cells also express the stem/progenitor cell markers CD34 and Oct-4, and do not express cytokeratin or surfactant. These putative lung stem/progenitor cells can also be identified in some non-SARS individuals and can be infected by SARS-coronavirus ex vivo. Infection of these cells may contribute to the loss of lung repair capacity that leads to respiratory failure as clinically observed.
Chen
Yongxiong
Y
Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chan
Vera Sau-Fong
VS
Zheng
Bojian
B
Chan
Kelvin Yuen-Kwong
KY
Xu
Xiaoning
X
To
Leo Yuk-Fai
LY
Huang
Fang-Ping
FP
Khoo
Ui-Soon
US
Lin
Chen-Lung Steve
CL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000032:analysis*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D007633:Keratins