SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid induces hyperinflammation and vascular leakage through the Toll-like receptor signaling axis in macrophages

The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is a known immune antagonist, but its role in macrophage-driven cytokine storms is unclear. We demonstrate that N functions in a stimulus-specific manner, specifically amplifying extracellular and dampening intracellular RNA sensing.

Moreover, we show that this is a conserved feature of pathogenic betacoronaviruses through distinct mechanisms. Our interaction networks with SARS-CoV-2 variant N proteins suggest the Delta variant N drives inflammation through interactions with several proteins, most notably, cGAS. Profiling of secreted cytokines revealed that the N proteins disrupt the secretome in a variant-specific manner.