Role of Furin in COVID-19 and underlying molecular and immunological mechanisms

Clinical data indicate that people with heart-related diseases and other underlying medical conditions are at a significantly higher risk for COVID-19. Many of these underlying diseases have genetic sources. Importantly, susceptibility to artery diseases are linked to multiple SNPs within FURIN, which encodes a cell membrane-bound protease known as Furin. Studies suggest that Furin can cleave the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein to facilitate/enhance viral entry into human alveolar type II cells. The putative Furin cleavage site is absent in SARS-CoV-2 progenitors and, likely, mediates the cross-species transmission of this virus into humans. These data suggest that Furin represents a novel potential target for neutralizing antibodies (Abs) particularly in patients who are at higher risk due to heart-related diseases.