Potential Role of Galectin-glycan Lattices in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Pathogenesis: A Hypothesis

Endothelial dysfunction plays a crucial role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and has recently been proposed to be connected with thrombosis, hyper-inflammation, cytokine storm syndrome, immune cell recruitment, platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction endothelial apoptosis. Importantly, certain mediators pro-inflammatory cytokines such as galectin (Gal) 1, Gal3 Gal8 act concerted manner through the N- O-linked glycans located on SARS-CoV-2 S protein. We hypothesize that presence of these factors may cause ACE2 receptor, integrin β1, CD44 generate Gal-glycan lattice surface virus. This lattice, addition cells (ECs), not only influence EC behavior inflammatory response, but also induce conformational changes viral structure can facilitate attachment entry into ECs. believe further basic science research is necessary elucidate composition lattices infection.