GSE171370
Genome-wide Analyses Revealed the Global Impacts of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Gene Orf9c on Human Cardiomyocytes
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 patients accompany with high frequencies of cardiac complications, which prominently contributed to the overall SARS-CoV-2-caused mortality. SARS-CoV-2 genome was reported to encode up to 14 genes. Currently, molecular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 viral gene-induced cardiac manifestations still remain elusive. Here, we overexpressed Orf9c, a SARS-CoV-2 encoded gene, in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs). Multiple genome-wide analyses were performed to investigate the global impacts of Orf9c on hPSC-CMs. The mRNA-seq indicated stress-related signaling pathways, including cell death, immune and inflammation responses, activated by Orf9c. High-throughput proteomics and Co-immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry studies revealed the global influence of Orf9c on the proteome of hPSC-CMs and Orf9c-interactive protein network in hPSC-CMs. Orf9c overexpression elevated protein expressions of key factors essential for apoptosis while suppressing protein factors crucial for ATP synthesis. Further experimental validations confirmed that Orf9c overexpression induced prominent cell death, abnormal calcium handling and electrical properties, and significantly reduced cellular ATP level in hPSC-CMs. Finally, administration of two FDA-approved drugs, Ivermectin and Meclizine, were proven by our study to restore ATP level to prominently ameliorate Orf9c-induced cell death and electrical abnormalities of hPSC-CMs. Overall, we comprehensively manifest global responses of host human heart muscle cells to SARS-CoV-2 gene Orf9c, characterized molecular mechanisms underlying Orf9c-induced cardiac abnormalities, and explored potentially therapeutic approaches to ameliorate cardiac dysfunctions in COVID-19 patients. Overall design: RNA-seq of 6 hPSC-CM samples (3 control + 3 Orf9c OE)