Background: Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and is closely linked to the severity and mortality of the disease. The inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection can alter the capacity of the endothelium to regulate vascular tone, immune responses, and the balance between anti-thrombotic and pro-thrombotic properties. However, the specific endothelial pathways altered during COVID-19 still need to be fully understood. Objective: In this study, we sought to identify molecular changes in endothelial cells induced by circulating factors characteristic of COVID-19. Methods and results: To this aim, we cultured endothelial cells with sera from patients with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Through transcriptomic analysis, we were able to identify a distinctive endothelial phenotype that is induced by sera from COVID-19 patients. We confirmed and expanded this observation in vitro by showing that COVID-19 serum alters functional properties of endothelial cells leading to increased apoptosis, loss of barrier integrity, and hypercoagulability. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these endothelial dysfunctions are mediated by protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2), as predicted by transcriptome network analysis validated by in vitro functional assays. Conclusion: Our findings provide the rationale for further studies to evaluate whether targeting PAR-2 may be a clinically effective strategy to counteract endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19.

Serum from COVID-19 patients promotes endothelial cell dysfunction through protease-activated receptor 2

Vieceli Dalla Sega, Francesco
Co-primo
;
Fortini, Francesca
Co-primo
;
Ascierto, Alessia;Marracino, Luisa;Severi, Paolo;D'Accolti, Maria;Soffritti, Irene;Contoli, Marco;Spadaro, Savino;Campo, Gianluca;Ferrari, Roberto;Caselli, Elisabetta
Penultimo
;
Rizzo, Paola
Ultimo
2024

Abstract

Background: Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and is closely linked to the severity and mortality of the disease. The inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection can alter the capacity of the endothelium to regulate vascular tone, immune responses, and the balance between anti-thrombotic and pro-thrombotic properties. However, the specific endothelial pathways altered during COVID-19 still need to be fully understood. Objective: In this study, we sought to identify molecular changes in endothelial cells induced by circulating factors characteristic of COVID-19. Methods and results: To this aim, we cultured endothelial cells with sera from patients with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Through transcriptomic analysis, we were able to identify a distinctive endothelial phenotype that is induced by sera from COVID-19 patients. We confirmed and expanded this observation in vitro by showing that COVID-19 serum alters functional properties of endothelial cells leading to increased apoptosis, loss of barrier integrity, and hypercoagulability. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these endothelial dysfunctions are mediated by protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2), as predicted by transcriptome network analysis validated by in vitro functional assays. Conclusion: Our findings provide the rationale for further studies to evaluate whether targeting PAR-2 may be a clinically effective strategy to counteract endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19.
2024
Vieceli Dalla Sega, Francesco; Fortini, Francesca; Licastro, Danilo; Monego, Simeone Dal; Degasperi, Margherita; Ascierto, Alessia; Marracino, Luisa; ...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/2533439
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