Investigating Exosomes in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Potential Partner for Coronavirus Reinfection/Reactivation

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Virus-infected cells secrete exosomes and other extracellular vesicles which could deliver viral components, including structural proteins and viral derived-ribonucleic acids to other cells. Released extracellular vesicles carry virus-specific receptors that increase the sensitivity of the target cells to viral infection. Exosomes may contribute to the systemic spreading of SARS-CoV-2 virus by transferring essential receptors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and CD9 that promote the ability of the virus to dock into the target cells. Subsequently, the SARS-CoV-2 virus might also enter into the exosomal pathway to use this system for packaging their components into exosomes for secretion. This study suggests that one of the potential explanations for the relapse and persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection could be an endocytic transport pathway related to the secretion of COVID-19-loaded extracellular vesicles.