ArticleMolecular biology reports2025
The monomeric but not homotrimeric spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 activates TLR4 signaling.
Article in Molecular biology reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- T1R3 Anchors ACE2 at the Pulmonary Endothelial Cell Surface to Attenuate Vascular Injury Following SARS-CoV-2 Spike 1 Protein Exposure In Vitro.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2026Article
- Structural insights into TLR4 activation by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: implications for inflammatory response modulation.Molecular diversity · 2026Article
- Mast cells release DNA Extracellular Traps (DETs) in response to SARS-CoV-2 and its spike protein.Cell communication and signaling : CCS · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundRecent findings indicate that hyperinflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2 are major contributors to the severity and fatality of COVID-19. Pattern recognition receptors, particularly Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4), have been implicated in detecting SARS-CoV-2 proteins, especially the spike protein. However, the role of viral structural components in triggering innate immune responses remains poorly understood. METHODS AND
resultsHEK293 reporter cells, engineered to stably express TLR2 or TLR4, and THP-1 differentiated macrophages were exposed to various spike protein components and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Protein levels of cytokines were detected by ELISA and mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. We demonstrate that the S1 subunit and full-length spike protein elicit TLR4-dependent pro-inflammatory responses. TLR4 activation was triggered by the monomeric, but not the homotrimeric, form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
conclusionsThese findings suggest that distinct elements of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein differentially activate TLR4 signaling pathways, driving innate immune and inflammatory responses.
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