Highly Pathogenic Coronavirus N Protein Aggravates Inflammation by MASP-2-Mediated Lectin Complement Pathway Overactivation

The N proteins of highly pathogenic human coronaviruses were found to bind MASP-2, a key serine protease in the lectin pathway of complement activation, resulting in excessive complement activation by potentiating MBL-dependent MASP-2 activation, and the deposition of MASP-2, C4b, activated C3, and C5b-9.