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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author 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
author_facet 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
author_sort Marine Barthez
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 2211-1247
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Cell Reports
spelling doaj-art-dbc2cbe04a1841bbbc57ce6f981abec32025-08-20T03:03:36ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472025-04-0144411556210.1016/j.celrep.2025.115562SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19Marine Barthez0Biyun Xue1Jian Zheng2Yifei Wang3Zehan Song4Wei-Chieh Mu5Chih-ling Wang6Jiayue Guo7Fanghan Yang8Yuze Ma9Xuetong Wei10Chengjin Ye11Nicholas Sims12Luis Martinez-Sobrido13Stanley Perlman14Danica Chen15Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Metabolic Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Metabolic Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Endocrinology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Endocrinology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Metabolic Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USATexas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USADepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USATexas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Corresponding authorDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Metabolic Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Endocrinology Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221112472500333XCP: ImmunologyCP: Microbiology
spellingShingle 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
SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19
Cell Reports
CP: Immunology
CP: Microbiology
title SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19
title_full SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19
title_fullStr SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19
title_full_unstemmed SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19
title_short SIRT2 suppresses aging-associated cGAS activation and protects aged mice from severe COVID-19
title_sort sirt2 suppresses aging associated cgas activation and protects aged mice from severe covid 19
topic CP: Immunology
CP: Microbiology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221112472500333X
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