{
  "abstract": "SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked to hematologic abnormalities, but whether early hematopoietic compartments and their stromal niche are directly engaged remains unclear. We used in vitro exposure models to compare variant-associated responses of adult mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34 ⁺ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Adipose–derived (AD) and bone marrow–derived (BM) MSCs exposed to wild-type, Delta, or Omicron showed source- and variant-dependent nucleocapsid protein (NP) positivity, highest with Omicron in AD-MSCs; infectious virus in supernatants was undetectable. AD-MSCs expressed higher neuropilin-1 (NRP1) than BM-MSCs, and NRP1 knockdown reduced Omicron-associated NP signal, implicating an NRP1-linked entry process. SARS-CoV-2 exposure induced indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), most prominently in AD-MSCs. In UCB CD34 ⁺ HSPCs, Omicron increased NP positivity enriched in long-term HSCs, reduced primitive fraction frequencies, increased colony formation, and promoted early erythroid progenitor accumulation; heat-inactivated virus did not. NanoString profiling revealed host-response activation and altered cell-cycle/differentiation programs. These data indicate Omicron can engage stromal and early hematopoietic compartments and remodel stress-responsive hematopoiesis.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand",
    "Department of Tropical Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand",
    "Single-cell Omics and Systems Biology of Diseases (scSyBiD) Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Graduate Program in Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand",
    "Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand",
    "Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakan, Thailand"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 20,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kanit Bhukhai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Nopmullee Tanhuad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Pornprapa Srimorkun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Suwimon Manopwisedjaroen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Wittaya Panvongsa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Vimvara Vacharathit"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Phongthon Kanjanasirirat"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Umnuaychoke Thongsa-ad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Supasek Kongsomros"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Nareerat Sutjarit"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Chanya Srisaowakarn"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tulyapruek Tawonsawatruk"
    },
    {
      "name": "Patompon Wongtrakoongate"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nittaya Boonmuen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Suparerk Borwornpinyo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Usanarat Anurathapan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Arthit Chairoungdua"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nithi Asavapanumas"
    },
    {
      "name": "Suradej Hongeng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Arunee Thitithanyanont"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cg5abh6vpn1f7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360439",
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  "id": "cg5abh6vpn1f7",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
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  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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      "openalex",
      "2725|SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research"
    ],
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/RNA/Non-coding RNA/Small interfering RNA"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Virology/Viral replication"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Coronaviruses/SARS coronavirus/SARS CoV 2"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Coronaviruses/SARS coronavirus/SARS CoV 2"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Coronaviruses/SARS coronavirus/SARS CoV 2"
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      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Molecular biology techniques/Transfection"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0360439&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cg5abh6vpn1f7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360439"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "plos:gene expression",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
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    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:stem cells",
      "subfield": "developmental-biology"
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    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
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  "title": "Omicron SARS-CoV-2 shows NRP1-linked susceptibility in adipose-derived MSCs and alters primitive cord blood CD34⁺ HSPCs",
  "title_text": "Omicron SARS-CoV-2 shows NRP1-linked susceptibility in adipose-derived MSCs and alters primitive cord blood CD34⁺ HSPCs",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cg5abh6vpn1f7",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
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}