The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Papain-like protease (PLpro) from coronaviruses activates airway-innervating nociceptors in mice and human iPSC-derived neurons, driving sneezing, coughing, acute pain, and CGRP release via TRPA1.
- Why it matters: Respiratory viral symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and pain depend on airway nociceptors, but the SARS-CoV-2 mechanism that activates these neurons was unclear.
- What they did: In mice and human iPSC-derived nociceptors, PLpro directly activated neurons, and both PLpro proteolytic activity and TRPA1 were required for neuronal activation and sneezing. SARS-CoV-2 or MHV-A59 infection also induced TRPA1-dependent sneezing, and SARS-CoV-2 infection of trigeminal ganglia upregulated TRPA1-CGRP nociception programs.
- The result: The data define a direct PLpro–TRPA1 pathway that triggers airway reflexes and pain, supporting PLpro and TRPA1 as potential COVID-19 therapeutic targets.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.