SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19

Summary: Aging-associated vulnerability to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains poorly understood. Here, we show that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected aged mice lacking SIRT2, a cytosolic NAD+-dependent deacetylase, develop more severe disease and show inc...

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Main Authors: Marine Barthez, Biyun Xue, Jian Zheng, Yifei Wang, Zehan Song, Wei-Chieh Mu, Chih-ling Wang, Jiayue Guo, Fanghan Yang, Yuze Ma, Xuetong Wei, Chengjin Ye, Nicholas Sims, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Stanley Perlman, Danica Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Cell Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221112472500333X
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Summary:Summary: Aging-associated vulnerability to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains poorly understood. Here, we show that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected aged mice lacking SIRT2, a cytosolic NAD+-dependent deacetylase, develop more severe disease and show increased mortality, while treatment with an NAD+ booster, 78c, protects aged mice from lethal infection. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that SIRT2 modulates the acetylation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), an immune sensor for cytosolic DNA, and suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and inflammation. Furthermore, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced inflammation is mediated at least in part by ORF3a, which triggers mtDNA release and cGAS activation. Collectively, our study reveals a molecular basis for aging-associated susceptibility to COVID-19 and suggests therapeutic approaches to protect aged populations from severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.
ISSN:2211-1247