EMMPRIN/BASIGIN as a biological modulator of oral cancer and COVID-19 interaction: Novel propositions

• Published in: Medical hypotheses 2020-10, Vol.143, p.110089-110089, Article 110089
• Main Authors: Varadarajan, Saranya, Balaji, Thodur Madapusi, Sarode, Sachin C., Sarode, Gargi S., Sharma, Nilesh K., Gondivkar, Shailesh, Gadbail, Amol, Patil, Shankargouda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACE-2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Antibodies, Monoclonal; BASIGIN; Basigin - metabolism; Betacoronavirus; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - complications; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; CD 147; Coronavirus Infections - complications; Coronavirus Infections - metabolism; COVID-19; Disease Susceptibility; EMMPRIN; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Grape Seed Extract; Humans; Mouth Neoplasms - complications; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouthwashes; Oral cancer; Oral potentially malignant disorder; Pandemics; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - metabolism; Pneumonia, Viral - complications; Pneumonia, Viral - metabolism; Protein Binding; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110089

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), which is also called BASIGIN/CD147, is a cell surface glycoprotein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and plays a significant role in intercellular recognition in immunology, cellular differentiation and development. Apart from ACE-2, recently EMMPRIN, has been regarded as a target for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) attachment and entry into the host cell. Since one of the routes of entry for the virus is the oral cavity, it becomes imperative to percept oral comorbidities such oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) in terms of EMMPRIN as a target for SARS-CoV-2. In the present paper, it is proposed that OSCC, by the virtue of upregulation of EMMPRIN expression, increases the susceptibility to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In turn, COVID-19 in OSCC patients causes exhaustion of EMMPRIN receptor due to binding with ‘S’ receptor leading to a downregulation of related carcinogenesis events. We proposed that in the ACE-2 depleted situation in OSCC, EMMPRIN receptor might get high jacked by the COVID-19 virus for the entry into the host cells. Apart from the anti-monoclonal antibody, it is recommended to explore the use of grape seed and skin containing mouthwash as an adjunct, which could also have anti EMMPRIN effects in patients with OSCC and OPMDs.