PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a devastating systemic inflammatory syndrome caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which has resulted in over 500,000 deaths in the US during the past year, with this high rate of mortality being attributed in large part to the development of Acute Lung Injury (ALI) or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells requires the direct binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-protein to the principal host protease-TMPRSS2 and the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors which are expressed in multiple host cell types. The development of efficacious vaccines to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 represents a tremendous advance that will help curb the COVID-19 pandemic, however the emergence of variants of concern such as the B1.1.7, P1 and B1.351 which can evade the neutralizing responses of the vaccine-induced humoral immune response underscores the urgent need to develop novel therapeutics to complement the vaccination efforts. Based on our provocative Supporting Data, we have formulated the overarching hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 induced lung endothelial injury is a requisite element of COVID-19 induced maladaptive inflammatory injury that can be therapeutically targeted. We propose the following specific aims: In Aim 1, we will define the nature and underlying mechanisms of lung endothelial injury underlying COVID-19-induced ALI/ARDS. We will test the hypothesis that the degree of lung endothelial injury is a key determinant of the overall pathogenicity and mortality of multiple SARS- CoV-2 variants. We will establish SARS-CoV-2-induced lung vascular injury and compensatory lung endothelial regeneration using two complementary humanized ACE2 mouse models, EC-specific genetic lineage tracing, genetic stabilization of VE-cadherin and single cell RNA-Sequencing. In Aim 2, we will define the efficacy and optimal temporal windows for two targeted pharmacological therapeutic strategies in preventing and resolving SARS-CoV- 2 induced lung endothelial injury. We will test the hypothesis that an engineered soluble hACE-2 peptide has a higher therapeutic efficacy than the wildtype hACE-2 peptide in reducing lung endothelial injury as well as long-term EC reprogramming by preventing viral entry and dissemination of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. We will test the corollary hypothesis and that targeted inhibition of IL1β-signaling using a modified IL-1 Receptor antagonist is protective against the feed-forward inflammatory loop and endothelial injury induced by multiple SARS-CoV2 variants. We will use two hACE-2 mouse models as well as compare distinct routes of delivery (intratracheal versus intravenous) and identify the optimal temporal windows for the therapeutic intervention.

NARRATIVE The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a tragically high number of deaths in the United States due to severe injury of the lungs by the virus. A major complication of the virus is that leads to the build-up of fluid in the lungs because the lung blood vessels are unable to continue their normal function. The research in this proposal will identify new ways to prevent fluid build-up in the lung and test new treatments using virus variants of concern that are highly contagious and escape the immune response activated by currently available vaccines.