The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Papain-like protease (PLpro) from SARS-CoV-2 directly activates airway-innervating nociceptors in mice and iPSC-derived neurons, triggering sneezing, coughing, acute pain, and CGRP release.
- Why it matters: Respiratory viral symptoms rely on airway nociceptors, but how SARS-CoV-2 activates these neurons was unclear, limiting targeted therapeutic strategies.
- What they did: In mice and human iPSC-derived nociceptors, PLpro activation required both PLpro proteolytic activity and the ion channel TRPA1; SARS-CoV-2 and MHV-A59 infection also induced TRPA1-dependent sneezing.
- The result: SARS-CoV-2 infection of mouse trigeminal ganglia altered nociception-linked transcription, including upregulation of the TRPA1–CGRP pathway activated by PLpro, supporting PLpro and TRPA1 as therapeutic targets.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
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