Alpha Linolenic and Stearic Acids Modulate Genes Related to Viral Entry and Inflammatory Response in <scp>THP</scp> ‐1 Derived Macrophages Exposed to <scp>SARS</scp> ‐ <scp>CoV</scp> ‐2

Obesity plays a role in the poor prognosis of COVID-19. The study was designed to elucidate if alpha linolenic (Ala) and stearic (Est) acids could modulate the inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2. Firstly, scRNA-seq data analysis from COVID-19 patients revealed that major changes in the expression of genes related to virus entry to the cell and inflammatory response were found in macrophages rather than in alveolar epithelial cells. In vitro experiments were performed with Beas2B (human bronchial epithelial cells) and THP-1 (human monocytes/macrophages) cells to verify the putative effects of Ala and Est in the response to either Spike protein (S3) or the full SARS-CoV-2. Both Ala and Est exacerbated the increase in the expression of genes related to virus entry into the cell and pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 derived macrophages. These data suggest that NEFAs may play a role in the poor prognosis seen in individuals with obesity affected by COVID-19.