A new preprint provides evidence that the spike protein of both SARS-CoV-2 and mRNA vaccinations inhibits an important tumor suppressor protein, which may lead to increased incidence of cancer.
The preprint, titled ‘SARS-CoV-2 spike S2 subunit inhibits p53 activation of p21(WAF1), TRAIL Death Receptor DR5 and MDM2 proteins in cancer cells,’ and published on 15 April, is authored by Brown University Professors Shengliang Zhang and Wafik El-Deiry. The latter is the Director of the Cancer Centre at the University.
The scientists set out to determine if the S2 component of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with a tumor suppressor protein called p53. This particular protein is called the ‘guardian of the genome’ for its important role in DNA damage response and repair.
The authors found that S2 had a suppressive effect on p53, which suggests that “the SARS-CoV-2 spike causes an altered DNA damage sensing and repair response in cancer cells.”