Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel coronavirus illness that can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome. Due to the worldwide spread of the virus,        COVID-19 has posed a serious threat to world public health security. However, there is no effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2, and mass vaccination efforts face a huge challenge, researching signal conduct mechanisms when inflammatory reaction due to SARS-CoV-2 infection host is helpful to find potential therapeutic targets. Here we conducted a difference analysis on the gene expression profiles associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection primary human lung epithelial cells (NHBE). The analysis results showed that CACNG8, CACNG4, and potassium channels, KCNJ2/Kir2.1 and KCNJ12/Kir2.2, had abnormal gene expression in the SARS-CoV-infected NHBE cells compared to mock-infected controls. Moreover,
MAPK cascade could be activated by aberrantly ion channel genes expression. The MAPK pathways are key signaling molecules that drive pro-inflammatory pathways and excessive inflammation. The key genes, such as calcium channel and potassium channel et al., are closely related to inflammation and immunity. Thus, Kir2.1 and Kir2.2 may be key genes related to the cytokine storm of SARS-CoV-2 infection and are probably potential therapeutic targets of COVID-19. In addition, we virtual screened six candidate small molecules potential effective drugs which might reverse aberrantly gene expression profiles of COVID-19 patients by CMap.

COVID-19; Potassium channel; Cytokine storm; MAPK pathway; Virtual screen drugs