A novel ACE2 decoy for both neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants and killing of infected cells

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Alexandra Kegler - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Laura Drewitz - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Claudia Arndt - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus (Author)
  • Cansu Daglar - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Liliana Rodrigues Loureiro - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Nicola Mitwasi - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Christin Neuber - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Karla Elizabeth González Soto - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Tabea Bartsch - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Larysa Baraban - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Holger Ziehr - , Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (Author)
  • Markus Heine - , Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (Author)
  • Annabel Nieter - , Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (Author)
  • Andres Moreira-Soto - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Arne Kühne - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Jan Felix Drexler - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Barbara Seliger - , Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (Author)
  • Markus Laube - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Domokos Máthé - , Semmelweis University, Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine, CROmed Ltd (Author)
  • Bernadett Pályi - , National Public Health Center (Author)
  • Polett Hajdrik - , Semmelweis University (Author)
  • László Forgách - , Semmelweis University (Author)
  • Zoltán Kis - , National Public Health Center (Author)
  • Krisztián Szigeti - , Semmelweis University (Author)
  • Ralf Bergmann - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Semmelweis University (Author)
  • Anja Feldmann - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Michael Bachmann - , University Cancer Centre Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to millions of infections and deaths worldwide. As this virus evolves rapidly, there is a high need for treatment options that can win the race against new emerging variants of concern. Here, we describe a novel immunotherapeutic drug based on the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 and provide experimental evidence that it cannot only be used for (i) neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in SARS-CoV-2-infected animal models but also for (ii) clearance of virus-infected cells. For the latter purpose, we equipped the ACE2 decoy with an epitope tag. Thereby, we converted it to an adapter molecule, which we successfully applied in the modular platforms UniMAB and UniCAR for retargeting of either unmodified or universal chimeric antigen receptor-modified immune effector cells. Our results pave the way for a clinical application of this novel ACE2 decoy, which will clearly improve COVID-19 treatment.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1204543
JournalFrontiers in immunology
Volume14
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 37383226

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • ACE2 decoy, adapter CAR platform, bispecific antibody, COVID-19, SARS–CoV–2, T-cell based immunotherapy

Library keywords