ATP6AP1 and COVID-19: A recent study showed that the non-structural protein 6 (NSP6) of SARS-CoV-2 could induce NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in lung epithelial cells via binding to the vacuolar ATPase proton pump component ATP6AP1, while pharmacological rectification of autophagic flux by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, metformin, or polydatin could be a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce pyroptosis in lung epithelial cells and improve clinical outcomes of COVID-19 (117).