Virus-host interactome and proteomic survey reveal potential virulence factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis

Using COVID-19 patients peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), quantitative proteomics was performed. When it was compared with healthy donors, 333 proteins showed a statistically significant increase, while 393 proteins showed a reduction. Although some interferon stimulated genes were upregulated, there was no obvious type I interferon responses, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 may evade cellular interferon response. Comparison of the samples from mild and severe disease onsets revealed that neutrophil activation was remarkable. Protein-protein interactome showed that a viral protein nsp10 interacts with NKRF that plays a role for the repression of IL-8 induction, which resulted in the excessive activation of neutrophil.