Integrin activation is an essential component of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

Cellular entry of coronaviruses depends on binding of the viral spike (S) protein to a specific cellular receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Furthermore, the viral spike protein expresses an RGD motif, suggesting that cell surface integrins may be attachment co-receptors. However, using infectious SARS-CoV-2 requires a biosafety level 3 laboratory (BSL-3), which limits the techniques that can be used to study the mechanism of cell entry. Here, we UV-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and fluorescently labeled the envelope membrane with octadecyl rhodamine B (R18) to explore the role of integrin activation in mediating both cell entry and productive infection. We used flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy to show that fluorescently labeled SARS-CoV-2R18 particles engage basal-state integrins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Mn2+, which activates integrins and induces integrin extension, enhances cell binding and entry of SARS-CoV-2R18 in proportion to the fraction of integrins activated. We also show that one class of integrin antagonist, which binds to the I MIDAS site and stabilizes the inactive, closed conformation, selectively inhibits the engagement of SARS-CoV-2R18 with basal state integrins, but is ineffective against Mn2+-activated integrins. At the same time, RGD-integrin antagonists inhibited SARS-CoV-2R18 binding regardless of integrin activity state. Integrins transmit signals bidirectionally: inside-out signaling primes the ligand binding function of integrins via a talin dependent mechanism and outside-in signaling occurs downstream of integrin binding to macromolecular ligands. Outside-in signaling is mediated by G13 and induces cell spreading, retraction, migration, and proliferation. Using cell-permeable peptide inhibitors of talin, and G13 binding to the cytoplasmic tail of an integrins {beta} subunit, we further demonstrate that talin-mediated signaling is essential for productive infection by SARS-CoV-2.