Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38928376›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2024

Electrophysiological Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Protein in U251 Human Glioblastoma Cells: Possible Implications in Gliomagenesis?

Lorenzo Monarca, Francesco Ragonese, Andrea Biagini, Paola Sabbatini, Matteo Pacini, Alessandro Zucchi, Roberta Spaccapelo, Paola Ferrari, Andrea Nicolini, Bernard Fioretti

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Computational and structural biotechnology journal · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lorenzo MonarcaDepartment of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Francesco RagoneseDepartment of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-7074-6355
Andrea BiaginiDepartment of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7937-2784
Paola SabbatiniDepartment of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Matteo PaciniUrology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Alessandro ZucchiUrology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2252-4297
Roberta SpaccapeloDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, Perugia Medical School, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2100-6172
Paola FerrariDepartment of Oncology, Transplantations and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2983-9726
Andrea NicoliniDepartment of Oncology, Transplantations and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5178-9510
Bernard FiorettiDepartment of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.

Funding

Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MUR), Italy, Fondo Integrativo Speciale per la Ricerca (FISR 2020) FISR2020IP_0346
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the acute respiratory disease which, so far, has led to over 7 million deaths. There are several symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections which include neurological and psychiatric disorders, at least in the case of pre-Omicron variants. SARS-CoV-2 infection can also promote the onset of glioblastoma in patients without prior malignancies. In this study, we focused on the Envelope protein codified by the virus genome, which acts as viroporin and that is reported to be central for virus propagation. In particular, we characterized the electrophysiological profile of E-protein transfected U251 and HEK293 cells through the patch-clamp technique and FURA-2 measurements. Specifically, we observed an increase in the voltage-dependent (Kv) and calcium-dependent (KCa) potassium currents in HEK293 and U251 cell lines, respectively. Interestingly, in both cellular models, we observed a depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential in accordance with an alteration of U251 cell growth. We, therefore, investigated the transcriptional effect of E protein on the signaling pathways and found several gene alterations associated with apoptosis, cytokines and WNT pathways. The electrophysiological and transcriptional changes observed after E protein expression could explain the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on gliomagenesis.

Indexed as

COVID-19GlioblastomaMembrane Potential, MitochondrialSARS-CoV-2ApoptosisBrain NeoplasmsCell Line, TumorCoronavirus Envelope ProteinsHEK293 CellsHumansCoronavirus Envelope Proteinsenvelope protein, SARS-CoV-2cell proliferationE proteinglioblastomamitochondria depolarizationSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID38928376
PMCPMC11203726

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.