The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein modifies the transcriptional profile of human cardiac pericytes

Human cardiac pericytes express the receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and contribute to microvascular dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. The SARS-CoV-2 capsid Spike protein seems to play a direct role in COVID-19 microangiopathy, but it is not known yet whether the Spike protein alone, without the infectious virus, can induce transcriptional alterations in pericytes. This study investigated the signalling pathways activated by the Spike protein in cultured human cardiac pericytes. We found that 309 RNA transcripts were significantly modulated in pericytes exposed to the Spike protein, with the upregulation of pathways linked to inflammation and viral infection. We analysed 3 primary cultures of human cardiac pericytes, isolated from 3 patients, called A1, B1 and C1. Pericytes were exposed for 48 hours either to a recombinant Spike protein (S1+S2 domains, 1 microgram/mL, produced as described in Avolio et al. 2021 - doi: 10.1042/CS20210735) or PBS vehicle, in the absence of FBS and growth factors. The total RNA was collected for RNA-Sequencing.