The Antiviral Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide by Blocking the Interaction between SARS‐CoV‐2 and Its Potential Cell Surface Receptors
Jing Dai, Xu Teng, Sheng Jin, Yuming Wu
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is posing a great threat to the global economy and public health security. Together with the acknowledged angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2, glucose‐regulated protein 78, transferrin receptor, AXL, kidney injury molecule‐1, and neuropilin 1 are also identified as potential receptors to mediate SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Therefore, how to inhibit or delay the binding of SARS‐CoV‐2 with the abovementioned receptors is a key step for the prevention and treatment of COVID‐19. As the third gasotransmitter, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) plays an important role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recently, survivors were reported to have significantly higher H 2 S levels in COVID‐19 patients, and mortality was significantly greater among patients with decreased H 2 S levels. Considering that the beneficial role of H 2 S against COVID‐19 and COVID‐19‐induced comorbidities and multiorgan damage has been well‐examined and reported in some excellent reviews, this review will discuss the recent findings on the potential receptors of SARS‐CoV‐2 and how H 2 S modulates the above receptors, in turn blocking SARS‐CoV‐2 entry into host cells.