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Osmanoglu Ö, Gupta SK, Almasi A, Yagci S, Srivastava M, Araujo GHM, Nagy Z, Balkenhol J, Dandekar T. Signaling network analysis reveals fostamatinib as a potential drug to control platelet hyperactivation during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1285345. [PMID: 38187394 PMCID: PMC10768010 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1285345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pro-thrombotic events are one of the prevalent causes of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions among COVID-19 patients, although the signaling events in the stimulated platelets are still unclear. Methods We conducted a comparative analysis of platelet transcriptome data from healthy donors, ICU, and non-ICU COVID-19 patients to elucidate these mechanisms. To surpass previous analyses, we constructed models of involved networks and control cascades by integrating a global human signaling network with transcriptome data. We investigated the control of platelet hyperactivation and the specific proteins involved. Results Our study revealed that control of the platelet network in ICU patients is significantly higher than in non-ICU patients. Non-ICU patients require control over fewer proteins for managing platelet hyperactivity compared to ICU patients. Identification of indispensable proteins highlighted key subnetworks, that are targetable for system control in COVID-19-related platelet hyperactivity. We scrutinized FDA-approved drugs targeting indispensable proteins and identified fostamatinib as a potent candidate for preventing thrombosis in COVID-19 patients. Discussion Our findings shed light on how SARS-CoV-2 efficiently affects host platelets by targeting indispensable and critical proteins involved in the control of platelet activity. We evaluated several drugs for specific control of platelet hyperactivity in ICU patients suffering from platelet hyperactivation. The focus of our approach is repurposing existing drugs for optimal control over the signaling network responsible for platelet hyperactivity in COVID-19 patients. Our study offers specific pharmacological recommendations, with drug prioritization tailored to the distinct network states observed in each patient condition. Interactive networks and detailed results can be accessed at https://fostamatinib.bioinfo-wuerz.eu/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özge Osmanoglu
- Functional Genomics & Systems Biology Group, Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Shishir K. Gupta
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Botany, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anna Almasi
- Functional Genomics & Systems Biology Group, Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Seray Yagci
- Functional Genomics & Systems Biology Group, Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mugdha Srivastava
- Core Unit Systems Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Algorithmic Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gabriel H. M. Araujo
- University Hospital Würzburg, Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Zoltan Nagy
- University Hospital Würzburg, Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Balkenhol
- Functional Genomics & Systems Biology Group, Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Chair of Molecular Microscopy, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translation Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Dandekar
- Functional Genomics & Systems Biology Group, Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg, BioComputing Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
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Colicchia M, Schrottmaier WC, Perrella G, Reyat JS, Begum J, Slater A, Price J, Clark JC, Zhi Z, Simpson MJ, Bourne JH, Poulter NS, Khan AO, Nicolson PLR, Pugh M, Harrison P, Iqbal AJ, Rainger GE, Watson SP, Thomas MR, Mutch NJ, Assinger A, Rayes J. S100A8/A9 drives the formation of procoagulant platelets through GPIbα. Blood 2022; 140:2626-2643. [PMID: 36026606 PMCID: PMC10653093 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021014966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
S100A8/A9, also known as "calprotectin" or "MRP8/14," is an alarmin primarily secreted by activated myeloid cells with antimicrobial, proinflammatory, and prothrombotic properties. Increased plasma levels of S100A8/A9 in thrombo-inflammatory diseases are associated with thrombotic complications. We assessed the presence of S100A8/A9 in the plasma and lung autopsies from patients with COVID-19 and investigated the molecular mechanism by which S100A8/A9 affects platelet function and thrombosis. S100A8/A9 plasma levels were increased in patients with COVID-19 and sustained high levels during hospitalization correlated with poor outcomes. Heterodimeric S100A8/A9 was mainly detected in neutrophils and deposited on the vessel wall in COVID-19 lung autopsies. Immobilization of S100A8/A9 with collagen accelerated the formation of a fibrin-rich network after perfusion of recalcified blood at venous shear. In vitro, platelets adhered and partially spread on S100A8/A9, leading to the formation of distinct populations of either P-selectin or phosphatidylserine (PS)-positive platelets. By using washed platelets, soluble S100A8/A9 induced PS exposure but failed to induce platelet aggregation, despite GPIIb/IIIa activation and alpha-granule secretion. We identified GPIbα as the receptor for S100A8/A9 on platelets inducing the formation of procoagulant platelets with a supporting role for CD36. The effect of S100A8/A9 on platelets was abolished by recombinant GPIbα ectodomain, platelets from a patient with Bernard-Soulier syndrome with GPIb-IX-V deficiency, and platelets from mice deficient in the extracellular domain of GPIbα. We identified the S100A8/A9-GPIbα axis as a novel targetable prothrombotic pathway inducing procoagulant platelets and fibrin formation, in particular in diseases associated with high levels of S100A8/A9, such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Colicchia
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gina Perrella
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, CARIM, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jasmeet S. Reyat
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jenefa Begum
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandre Slater
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Price
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne C. Clark
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Zhaogong Zhi
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Megan J. Simpson
- Aberdeen Cardiovascular & Diabetes Centre, Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua H. Bourne
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Natalie S. Poulter
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Abdullah O. Khan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip L. R. Nicolson
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Pugh
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Harrison
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Asif J. Iqbal
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - George E. Rainger
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Steve P. Watson
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R. Thomas
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Mutch
- Aberdeen Cardiovascular & Diabetes Centre, Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Assinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julie Rayes
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom
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Xiang M, Wu X, Jing H, Liu L, Wang C, Wang Y, Novakovic VA, Shi J. The impact of platelets on pulmonary microcirculation throughout COVID-19 and its persistent activating factors. Front Immunol 2022; 13:955654. [PMID: 36248790 PMCID: PMC9559186 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.955654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with COVID-19 often have hypoxemia, impaired lung function, and abnormal imaging manifestations in acute and convalescent stages. Alveolar inflammation, pulmonary vasculitis, and thromboembolism synergistically damage the blood-air barrier, resulting in increased pulmonary permeability and gas exchange disorders. The incidence of low platelet counts correlates with disease severity. Platelets are also involved in the impairment of pulmonary microcirculation leading to abnormal lung function at different phases of COVID-19. Activated platelets lose the ability to protect the integrity of blood vessel walls, increasing the permeability of pulmonary microvasculature. High levels of platelet activation markers are observed in both mild and severe cases, short and long term. Therefore, the risk of thrombotic events may always be present. Vascular endothelial injury, immune cells, inflammatory mediators, and hypoxia participate in the high reactivity and aggregation of platelets in various ways. Microvesicles, phosphatidylserine (PS), platelets, and coagulation factors are closely related. The release of various cell-derived microvesicles can be detected in COVID-19 patients. In addition to providing a phospholipid surface for the synthesis of intrinsic factor Xase complex and prothrombinase complex, exposed PS also promotes the decryption of tissue factor (TF) which then promotes coagulant activity by complexing with factor VIIa to activate factor X. The treatment of COVID-19 hypercoagulability and thrombosis still focuses on early intervention. Antiplatelet therapy plays a role in relieving the disease, inhibiting the formation of the hypercoagulable state, reducing thrombotic events and mortality, and improving sequelae. PS can be another potential target for the inhibition of hypercoagulable states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Xiang
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoming Wu
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Haijiao Jing
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Langjiao Liu
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chunxu Wang
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Valerie A. Novakovic
- Department of Research, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jialan Shi
- Department of Hematology, the First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Research, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jialan Shi, ;
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Falcinelli E, Petito E, Gresele P. The role of platelets, neutrophils and endothelium in COVID-19 infection. Expert Rev Hematol 2022; 15:727-745. [PMID: 35930267 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2022.2110061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19 is associated to an increased risk of thrombosis, as a result of a complex process that involves the activation of vascular and circulating cells, the release of soluble inflammatory and thrombotic mediators and blood clotting activation. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the pathophysiological role of platelets, neutrophils and the endothelium, and of their interactions, in the thrombotic complications of COVID-19 patients, and the current and future therapeutic approaches targeting these cell types. EXPERT OPINION Virus-induced platelet, neutrophil and endothelial cell changes are crucial triggers of the thrombotic complications and of the adverse evolution of COVID-19. Both the direct interaction with the virus and the associated cytokine storm concur to trigger cell activation in a classical thromboinflammatory vicious circle. Although heparin has proven to be an effective prophylactic and therapeutic weapon for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19-associated thrombosis, it acts downstream of the cascade of events triggered by SARS-CoV-2. The identification of specific molecular targets interrupting the thromboinflammatory cascade upstream, and more specifically acting either on the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with blood and vascular cells or on the specific signalling mechanisms associated with their COVID-19-associated activation, might theoretically offer greater protection with potentially lesser side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Falcinelli
- Section of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - E Petito
- Section of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - P Gresele
- Section of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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