Studies on the Effect of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike Protein on Macrophage Polarization

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein on macrophage polarization and cytokine secretion. The spike protein, central to viral entry and the primary antigen in most COVID-19 vaccines, was studied using transfection of THP-1-derived macrophages. Our findings showed that spike expression did not significantly shift macrophages toward either M1 or M2 phenotypes. However, a modest but statistically significant increase in IFN-α secretion was observed in M2-polarized cells. No such increase was seen in M1 macrophages. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how spike protein may subtly influence immune responses, with implications for viral pathogenesis and vaccine design.