Skip to main content
. 2023 Jan 16;26(2):105995. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105995

Figure 6.

Figure 6

Working hypothesis

A working hypothesis for SARS-CoV-2 N protein is proposed: Expression of SARS-CoV-2 N protein promotes p38 MAPK activation and RANTES chemokine secretion (1,2). N protein/nucleic acid complexes are secreted (3). The chemokines induced by N protein attract T cells, which produce more RANTES (4). The infected cells may cause local hypoxia and produce lactate (5). RANTES and lactate enhance N-protein-nucleic acid endocytosis by neighboring cells (6,7), and cause more tissue damage. The RNA/DNA carried by N protein could be originated from the virus or the host cell.