1
|
Gawelek KL, Padera R, Connors J, Pinkus GS, Podznyakova O, Battinelli EM. Cardiac megakaryocytes in SARS-CoV-2 positive autopsies. Histopathology 2022; 81:600-624. [PMID: 35925828 PMCID: PMC9538948 DOI: 10.1111/his.14734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Thromboembolic phenomena are an important complication of infection by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Increasing focus on the management of the thrombotic complications of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has led to further investigation into the role of platelets, and their precursor cell, the megakaryocyte, during the disease course. Previously published postmortem evaluations of patients who succumbed to COVID‐19 have reported the presence of megakaryocytes in the cardiac microvasculature. Our series evaluated a cohort of autopsies performed on SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients in 2020 (n = 36) and prepandemic autopsies performed in early 2020 (n = 12) and selected to represent comorbidities common in cases of severe COVID‐19, in addition to infectious and noninfectious pulmonary disease and thromboembolic phenomena. Cases were assessed for the presence of cardiac megakaryocytes and correlated with the presence of pulmonary emboli and laboratory platelet parameters and inflammatory markers. Cardiac megakaryocytes were detected in 64% (23/36) of COVID‐19 autopsies, and 40% (5/12) prepandemic autopsies, with averages of 1.77 and 0.84 megakaryocytes per cm2, respectively. Within the COVID‐19 cohort, autopsies with detected megakaryocytes had significantly higher platelet counts compared with cases throughout; other platelet parameters were not statistically significant between groups. Although studies have supported a role of platelets and megakaryocytes in the response to viral infections, including SARS‐CoV‐2, our findings suggest cardiac megakaryocytes may be representative of a nonspecific inflammatory response and are frequent in, but not exclusive to, COVID‐19 autopsies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kara L Gawelek
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert Padera
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jean Connors
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Geraldine S Pinkus
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Olga Podznyakova
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elisabeth M Battinelli
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Barale C, Melchionda E, Morotti A, Russo I. Prothrombotic Phenotype in COVID-19: Focus on Platelets. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413638. [PMID: 34948438 PMCID: PMC8705811 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 infection is associated with a broad spectrum of presentations, but alveolar capillary microthrombi have been described as a common finding in COVID-19 patients, appearing as a consequence of a severe endothelial injury with endothelial cell membrane disruption. These observations clearly point to the identification of a COVID-19-associated coagulopathy, which may contribute to thrombosis, multi-organ damage, and cause of severity and fatality. One significant finding that emerges in prothrombotic abnormalities observed in COVID-19 patients is that the coagulation alterations are mainly mediated by the activation of platelets and intrinsically related to viral-mediated endothelial inflammation. Beyond the well-known role in hemostasis, the ability of platelets to also release various potent cytokines and chemokines has elevated these small cells from simple cell fragments to crucial modulators in the blood, including their inflammatory functions, that have a large influence on the immune response during infectious disease. Indeed, platelets are involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury also by promoting NET formation and affecting vascular permeability. Specifically, the deposition by activated platelets of the chemokine platelet factor 4 at sites of inflammation promotes adhesion of neutrophils on endothelial cells and thrombogenesis, and it seems deeply involved in the phenomenon of vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. Importantly, the hyperactivated platelet phenotype along with evidence of cytokine storm, high levels of P-selectin, D-dimer, and, on the other hand, decreased levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and thrombocytopenia may be considered suitable biomarkers that distinguish the late stage of COVID-19 progression in critically ill patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isabella Russo
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-011-6705447; Fax: +39-011-9038639
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Barrett TJ, Bilaloglu S, Cornwell M, Burgess HM, Virginio VW, Drenkova K, Ibrahim H, Yuriditsky E, Aphinyanaphongs Y, Lifshitz M, Xia Liang F, Alejo J, Smith G, Pittaluga S, Rapkiewicz AV, Wang J, Iancu-Rubin C, Mohr I, Ruggles K, Stapleford KA, Hochman J, Berger JS. Platelets contribute to disease severity in COVID-19. J Thromb Haemost 2021; 19:3139-3153. [PMID: 34538015 PMCID: PMC8646651 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Heightened inflammation, dysregulated immunity, and thrombotic events are characteristic of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Given that platelets are key regulators of thrombosis, inflammation, and immunity they represent prime candidates as mediators of COVID-19-associated pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to understand the contribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the platelet phenotype via phenotypic (activation, aggregation) and transcriptomic characterization. APPROACH AND RESULTS In a cohort of 3915 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we analyzed blood platelet indices collected at hospital admission. Following adjustment for demographics, clinical risk factors, medication, and biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis, we find platelet count, size, and immaturity are associated with increased critical illness and all-cause mortality. Bone marrow, lung tissue, and blood from COVID-19 patients revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virions in megakaryocytes and platelets. Characterization of COVID-19 platelets found them to be hyperreactive (increased aggregation, and expression of P-selectin and CD40) and to have a distinct transcriptomic profile characteristic of prothrombotic large and immature platelets. In vitro mechanistic studies highlight that the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with megakaryocytes alters the platelet transcriptome, and its effects are distinct from the coronavirus responsible for the common cold (CoV-OC43). CONCLUSIONS Platelet count, size, and maturity associate with increased critical illness and all-cause mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Profiling tissues and blood from COVID-19 patients revealed that SARS-CoV-2 virions enter megakaryocytes and platelets and associate with alterations to the platelet transcriptome and activation profile.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J Barrett
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Seda Bilaloglu
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Macintosh Cornwell
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hannah M Burgess
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vitor W Virginio
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kamelia Drenkova
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Homam Ibrahim
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eugene Yuriditsky
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yin Aphinyanaphongs
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark Lifshitz
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Feng Xia Liang
- DART Microscopy Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Julie Alejo
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Grace Smith
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stefania Pittaluga
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Amy V Rapkiewicz
- Department of Pathology, NYU Winthrop Hospital, New York University Langone Health, Mineola, New York, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Camelia Iancu-Rubin
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ian Mohr
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kelly Ruggles
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kenneth A Stapleford
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Judith Hochman
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Berger
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jiang J, Li W, Liang B, Xie R, Chen B, Huang H, Li Y, He Y, Lv J, He W, Chen L. A Novel Prioritization Method in Identifying Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism-Related Genes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153006. [PMID: 27050193 PMCID: PMC4822849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the genes involved in venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence is important not only for understanding the pathogenesis but also for discovering the therapeutic targets. We proposed a novel prioritization method called Function-Interaction-Pearson (FIP) by creating gene-disease similarity scores to prioritize candidate genes underling VTE. The scores were calculated by integrating and optimizing three types of resources including gene expression, gene ontology and protein-protein interaction. As a result, 124 out of top 200 prioritized candidate genes had been confirmed in literature, among which there were 34 antithrombotic drug targets. Compared with two well-known gene prioritization tools Endeavour and ToppNet, FIP was shown to have better performance. The approach provides a valuable alternative for drug targets discovery and disease therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jiang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Wan Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Binhua Liang
- National Microbology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ruiqiang Xie
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Binbin Chen
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Hao Huang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Yiran Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Yuehan He
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Junjie Lv
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
| | - Weiming He
- Institute of Opto-electronics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China
- * E-mail: (LC); (WH)
| | - Lina Chen
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Hei Longjiang Province, China, Postal code: 150081
- * E-mail: (LC); (WH)
| |
Collapse
|