Vimentin is an important ACE2 co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2 in epithelial cells

Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament protein, widely expressed in mesenchymal cells. Mainly located in the cytoplasm, vimentin can also appear at extracellular locations, where it may interact with bacterial or viral pathogens. In this study, we aimed at investigating the implication of vimentin in SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and the consequences on viral replication and cellular response. We showed that upon infection, vimentin was upregulated at the cell surface, where it interacts with ACE2 for SARS-CoV-2 entry. We demonstrated a direct interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ACE2, and vimentin in epithelial cells. Inhibition of cell-surface vimentin availability resulted in reduced viral entry and cytopathogenic effects. Finally, we showed that the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines was modulated by vimentin—SARS-CoV-2 interaction. In conclusion, our data suggest that cell-surface vimentin acts as a co-receptor for SARS-CoV-2.