Modeling the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the mTOR signaling pathway

ABSTRACT

The spread of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 leads to global emergent health crisis and has a major impact on medical capacity. Novel drugs and therapeutic strategies are being developed to against COVID- 19. The mTOR pathway is one of the most pathogenesis-related signaling pathway of COVID- 19. SARS-CoV-2 can hijack the mTOR signaling pathway to promote its own replication and transmission. However, SARS-CoV-2 acts different at the early and late stages, which repress and induce apoptosis, respectively. This phenomenon results in two completely opposite treatment strategies between the early and late stages of infection. To precisely understand the pathogenetic progress and estimate the best administration time and therapeutic strategy at different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we developed the first comprehensive dynamic quantitative model of the mTOR signaling pathway with SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung. This model incorporates systematic gene expression data and gives a more comprehensive and precise understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis. This model can be used as a platform for investigating novel therapeutic strategies and administration times against COVID-19.