Abstract
Fermented foods have been proposed in limiting SARS-CoV-2 infection. Emerging evidence suggest the efficacy of cow's milk fermented with the probiotic L. paracasei CBAL74 (FM-CBAL74) in preventing infectious diseases. We evaluated the protective action of FM-CBAL74 against SARS-CoV-2 infection in human enterocytes. Relevant aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection were assessed: infectivity, host functional receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression (IL-6, IL-15, IL-1β, VEGFβ, TNF-α, MCP-1, CXCL1). Pre-incubation with FM-CBA L74 reduced the number of infected cells. The expression of ACE2 and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, VEGFβ, IL-15, IL-1β was downregulated by the pre-treatment with this fermented food. No effect on TMPRSS2, MCP-1, TNF-α and CXCL1 expression was observed. Modulating the crucial aspects of the infection, the fermented food FM-CBAL74 exerts a preventive action against SARS-CoV-2. These evidence could pave the way to innovative nutritional strategy to mitigate the COVID-19.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) (Atzrodt et al, 2020)
The SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was demonstrated by the detection of N viral protein in human enterocytes, using immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR
No effects have been observed on transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) expression, suggesting that the preventive action of FM-CBAL74 not involved the modulation of TMPRSS2 (Fig. 1B)
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) (Atzrodt et al, 2020). Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (such as diar rhea, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain) are commonly presented by COVID-19 patients, since human enterocytes express high level of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor, and other cell components for SARS-CoV-2 binding and replication (Berni Canani et al, 2021; Chen, Guo, Pan, & Zhao, 2020; Zang et al, 2020). The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the host functional ACE2 receptor through its receptor-binding domain. The GI tract is a target organ for SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is the body’s largest immune organ, and exerts a pivotal role in eliciting the cytokine storm in COVID19 patients (Archer & Kramer, 2020)
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