Coronaviruses are the common pathogenic microorganisms that infect human and animals and cause health hazards. Cell immune responses are induced to fight against coronavirus infection in infected cells. In order to initiate transcription and translation and to assemble the next generation in infected cells, viruses respond to cellular immune response and participate in many cellular activities. When specific receptors such as death receptors are bound by viral proteins, cells initiate apoptotic processes. Some viral proteins play critical roles in promoting or inhibiting apoptosis in the apoptotic process. For example, S protein induces external apoptotic pathway by binding to death receptor in cell membrane, M and S proteins induce internal apoptotic pathway by causing endoplasmic reticulum stress and Ca2+ imbalance. On the other hand, E protein inhibits apoptosis in infected cells. This article reviews the mechanism of pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic effects of coronavirus on infected cells. By understanding the different roles of different viral proteins in extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, it is expected to provide ideas for artificial intervention in cell regulation for prevention and control of coronavirus infection.
