Human Anti-NRP1 Recombinant Antibody (HPAB-0514-CN) (CAT#: HPAB-0514-CN)

Krasemann, Susanne, et al. "The blood-brain barrier is dysregulated in COVID-19 and serves as a CNS entry route for SARS-CoV-2." Stem cell reports 17.2 (2022): 307-320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.12.011

This study investigates how SARS-CoV-2 affects the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and potentially enters the central nervous system. The researchers developed a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived brain capillary endothelial-like cell model to study SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms. They demonstrated that these cells can be infected by SARS-CoV-2, leading to active viral replication and transcellular transport across the BBB without compromising its paracellular tightness. Transcriptomic analysis of both COVID-19 patient brain vessels and infected hiPSC-derived cells showed significant upregulation of interferon signaling pathways. The researchers also found that viral entry could be reduced using antibodies against spike protein, ACE2, and neuropilin-1 (NRP1), as well as with the TMPRSS2 inhibitor nafamostat.
Creative Biolabs provided anti-NRP1 antibodies (HPAB-0514-CN) that were used in conjunction with other anti-NRP1 antibodies to test potential therapeutic interventions against SARS-CoV-2 infection of brain endothelial cells. These antibodies helped demonstrate that NRP1, which showed higher expression than ACE2 in the brain endothelial cells, plays a significant role in viral entry. The successful inhibition of infection using these antibodies suggests that targeting NRP1 could be a promising strategy for preventing SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion, potentially addressing the neurological complications observed in COVID-19 patients.