SARS-CoV-2 is the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The clinical evolution of COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic infection to death. Older people and patients with underlying medical conditions, particularly diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases are more susceptible to develop severe forms of COVID-19. Significant endothelial damage has been reported in COVID-19 and growing evidence supports the key pathophysiological role of this alteration in the onset and the progression of the disease. In particular, the impaired vascular homeostasis secondary to the structural and functional damage of the endothelium and its main component, the endothelial cells, contributes to the systemic proinflammatory state and the multiorgan involvement observed in COVID-19 patients. This review summarizes the current evidence supporting the proposition that the endothelium is a key target of SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and endothelial cells.
#2Kamila Bujko(University of Louisville)H-Index: 13
Last. Magda Kucia(University of Louisville)H-Index: 56
view all 7 authors...
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays an important role as a member of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) in regulating the conversion of angiotensin II (Ang II) into angiotensin (1–7) (Ang [1–7]). But at the same time, while expressed on the surface of human cells, ACE2 is the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Expression of this receptor has been described in several types of cells, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which raises ...
Bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells are vasculogenic, and play an important role in endothelial health and vascular homeostasis by participating in post-natal vasculogenesis. Progenitor cells are mobilized from bone marrow niches in response to remote ischemic injury and migrate to the areas of damage and stimulate revascularization largely by paracrine activation of angiogenic functions in the peri-ischemic vasculature. This innate vasoprotective mechanism is impaired in cer...
Last. Yohei Yamauchi(UoB: University of Bristol)H-Index: 25
view all 21 authors...
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, uses the viral Spike (S) protein for host cell attachment and entry. The host protease furin cleaves the full-length precursor S glycoprotein into two associated polypeptides: S1 and S2. Cleavage of S generates a polybasic Arg-Arg-Ala-Arg C-terminal sequence on S1, which conforms to a C-end rule (CendR) motif that binds to cell surface Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) receptors. Here, we used X-ray crystallography and biochemical approaches...
Beside the commonly described pulmonary expression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), major vascular events have been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate whether increased levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) might be associated with severe forms of COVID-19. Ninety-nine patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients in the intensive care units (ICU) had significantly higher CEC counts than non-ICU patients and the extent of end...
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started on 12 December 2019 in Wuhan, China, had caused 7,885,123 cases including 431,835 deaths by 14 Jun 2020 all over the world. Here we report the genomic characterization and phylogenetic evolution of this coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 that caused COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 genomes and other coronaviruses were obtained from GISAID and GenBank. Then the genome was annotated, and potential genetic recombination was investigated. Phylogenetic analysis was ...
We present the case of a young adult with stroke and very mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Results of hematologic work-up suggest SARS-CoV-2-induced endotheliitis. No concurrent etiology for stroke was detected. This case illustrates the possibility of stroke in healthy SARS-CoV-2-infected patients without hyperinflammatory state or excessive systemic coagulation activation.
Background Chilblains ("COVID toes") are being seen with increasing frequency in children and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Detailed histopathological descriptions of COVID-19 chilblains have not been reported, and causality of SARS-CoV-2 has not been established yet. Objective To describe histopathological features of Covid-19 chilblains and explore the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the tissue. Methods We examined skin biopsies from 7 paediatric patients presenting with chilblains duri...
SARS-CoV-2, a novel Betacoronavirus, has attracted global attention because of its extremely high infection rate and large number of human deaths. It possesses a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA of ~ 30 kb nucleotides as its genetic material. It is responsible for COVID-19 which has been declared a pandemic by WHO. Having reported for the first time in Wuhan, China, the virus infected over 21.48 million people and caused over 0.77 million deaths till mid-august 2020. SARS-CoV-2 contains the s...
Background During the course of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, thrombotic phenomena and/or diffuse vascular damage are frequent, and viral elements have been observed within endothelial cells. Objectives CD146+ circulating endothelial cells (CD146+ CECs) and their progenitors (CEPs) are increased in cardiovascular, thrombotic, infectious and cancer diseases. The present study was designed to investigate their kinetics in Covid-19 patients. Method We used a valida...
Last. David Alsteens(UCL: Université catholique de Louvain)H-Index: 43
view all 10 authors...
Study of the interactions established between the viral glycoproteins and their host receptors is of critical importance for a better understanding of virus entry into cells. The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells is mediated by its spike glycoprotein (S-glycoprotein), and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as a cellular receptor. Here, we use atomic force microscopy to investigate the mechanisms by which the S-glycoprotein binds to the ACE2 receptor. ...
#2Anna D Clark(University of Southampton)H-Index: 1
Last. Martin Feelisch(University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust)H-Index: 88
view all 6 authors...
Significance SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, affects every aspect of human life by challenging bodily, socio-economic and political systems at unprecedented levels. As vaccines become available, their distribution, safety and efficacy against emerging variants remain uncertain, and specific treatments are lacking. Recent Advances: Initially affecting the lungs, COVID-19 is a complex multi-systems disease that disturbs whole-body redox balance and can be long-lasting (Long-COVID). Numerou...
Last. Gianfranco Pintus(College of Health Sciences, Bahrain)H-Index: 32
view all 4 authors...
Coagulation disorders, endotheliopathy and inflammation are the most common hallmarks in SARS-CoV-2 infection, largely determining COVID-19’s outcome and severity. Dysfunctions of endothelial cells and platelets are tightly linked in contributing to the systemic inflammatory response that appears to be both a cause and a consequence of COVID-19-associated coagulation disorders and thrombotic events. Indeed, elevated levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines are often associated with abnormal ...