COVID-19 News: Study Finds That Doublecortin-Like Kinase 1 (DCLK1), A Protein Associated With Cancer Stem Cells, Plays A Role In SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis!

COVID-19 News: The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on the world, affecting millions of lives and underscoring the urgent need for effective treatments. While vaccines have provided a ray of hope, the search for alternative therapeutic approaches remains a top priority, especially with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this context, a groundbreaking study from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has shed light on a previously overlooked player in the battle against COVID-19 - Doublecortin-Like Kinase 1 (DCLK1). This protein, typically associated with cancer stem cells, has been identified as a significant factor in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. The study's findings indicate that blocking DCLK1 could be a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention.


 
SARS-CoV-2-mediated alteration in proteomic profile of lung epithelial cells are restored following DCLK1 inhibition. Calu-3 cell lysates from uninfected (A1), SARS-CoV-2-infected (A2), infected cells treated with vehicle (DMSO) (A3), or DCLK1-IN-1 (A4) underwent proteomic analysis (experiments performed in triplicate). (A) Principal component analysis of total protein abundance for each sample shows close clustering of total normalized protein abundance (peak area) for A1 and A4 compared to A2 and A3. (B) Heat map clustering for differential protein abundance for each experimental condition. (C) Heat maps show multiple proteins induced by SARS-CoV-2 (A2 and A3, red) and normalization toward levels in uninfected cells (A1, green) following treatment with DCLK1-IN-1 (A4, green). (D) Volcano plots show significantly increased (red circles) and decreased (green circles) protein levels in infected (A2) compared to uninfected (A1) cells. (E) Eight proteins are identified that were induced by infection and normalized by DCLK1-IN-1. (F) Western blots validate proteomic data for a subset of proteins normalized by DCLK1-IN-1 as indicated. (G) Twenty-one genes were downregulated in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, and expression was restored by DCLK1-IN-1 (see box; the six most downregulated genes are shown in red). (H) Heat map showing six proteins most downregulated by infection (A2) compared to uninfected control (A1). Downregulated protein expression is restored by DCLK1-IN-1 (A4) and not DMSO (A3). (I) Examples of protein levels in infected cells that were restored by DCLK1-IN-1. *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, ***P ≤ 0.001, ****P ≤ 0.0001, ns (not significant) P > 0.05.

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19
The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 vary widely, with severe cases leading to devastating consequences for patients, especially those with pre-existing comorbidities as seen in various past studies and COVID-19 News reports.
 
Advanced age and underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and liver cirrhosis significantly increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19. Moreover, high viral loads in plasma have been linked to elevated disease severity and mortality rates. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the limited efficacy of existing antiviral drugs underscore the critical need for a deeper understanding of viral replication mechanisms and the assoc iated pathology to develop more effective treatment strategies.
 
Exploring SARS-CoV-2's Impact on Cellular Signaling Networks
Research has shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection disrupts cellular signaling networks and causes alterations in host immune responses. Transcriptome and proteome analyses have highlighted the activation of specific kinases, such as p38 MAPK, and changes in phosphorylation patterns of mitotic kinases, affecting cell cycle regulation. In hospitalized COVID-19 patients, single-cell RNA sequencing has revealed disrupted interferon responses, dysregulation of myeloid cells, and immune exhaustion. The secretion of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, is significantly increased in severe COVID-19 cases. The disease's pathogenesis is further complicated by fibrotic responses and impaired regeneration of type 2 pneumocytes.
 
DCLK1 Emerges as a Key Player in COVID-19 Pathogenesis
A recent study has illuminated a previously unexplored connection between COVID-19 severity and DCLK1, a protein associated with cancer stem cells. The study revealed high levels of DCLK1 expression in the lungs and macrophages of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, and this expression was strongly correlated with the severity of the disease. Notably, in healthy cells, DCLK1 is typically expressed only in response to cellular injury or stress.
 
DCLK1: A Multifaceted Protein
DCLK1 is a multifunctional protein with a kinase domain and conserved microtubule-binding doublecortin (DC) motifs. Its kinase domain plays a pivotal role in various biological processes. DCLK1 is also involved in the regulation of microtubules, which are crucial for intracellular transport and viral replication.
 
Uncovering the Role of DCLK1 in SARS-CoV-2 Replication
To investigate the role of DCLK1 in SARS-CoV-2 replication, the research team employed advanced techniques. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of DCLK1 in lung cells (Calu-3) and the use of a small molecule kinase inhibitor of DCLK1 (DCLK1-IN-1) effectively blocked viral replication-transcription processes. This inhibition led to a significant reduction in viral genomic and subgenomic RNAs, pointing to a crucial role for DCLK1 in the viral replication cycle.
 
Dysregulation of Cellular Proteome and its Restoration by DCLK1-IN-1
The study also examined the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the cellular proteome and the potential for DCLK1-IN-1 to restore balance. The drug exhibited specific binding to the DCLK1 kinase domain and showed remarkable effectiveness in reducing viral production and restoring normal cell signaling pathways. Proteomic analysis identified a subset of eight host proteins that were significantly increased in infected cells and were restored to normal levels by DCLK1-IN-1. This normalization was also observed for 42 downregulated host proteins.
 
DCLK1's Influence on Viral Proteins and Signaling Pathways
DCLK1-IN-1's ability to inhibit DCLK1 kinase was found to downregulate viral proteins required for SARS-CoV-2 replication and transcription. The drug also normalized the dysregulated signaling pathways induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. In particular, the phosphorylation patterns of key kinases were restored, indicating the potential therapeutic benefits of DCLK1 inhibition in countering aberrant cellular signaling.
 
Animal Model Validation
To validate the in vitro findings, the researchers employed a K18-hACE2 transgenic murine model that expressed human ACE2, making the mice susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results demonstrated that DCLK1-IN-1 significantly reduced viral genomic and N protein mRNAs, alleviated the pathological changes in the lungs, and decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α.
 
DCLK1 as a Promising Therapeutic Target
These findings underscore the critical role of DCLK1 in SARS-CoV-2 pathology and suggest it as a promising therapeutic target for mitigating severe COVID-19. DCLK1's selective expression in infected epithelial cells and polarized macrophages, combined with its role in viral replication and regulation of microtubules, positions it as a unique candidate for intervention. Further research is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DCLK1-IN-1 in human clinical trials, but the potential benefits are significant.
 
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the urgent need for effective treatments, and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has added to the challenge. The study from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center presents a compelling case for targeting DCLK1 as a novel therapeutic strategy for COVID-19. By blocking DCLK1, we may be able to disrupt the viral replication cycle and restore the cellular signaling balance, ultimately reducing disease severity. While more research is needed, the potential of DCLK1-IN-1 as a treatment for COVID-19 is an exciting development in the ongoing battle against the pandemic.
 
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Virology.
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.01194-23
 
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.