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Su C, Li C, Hu X, Wang J, Liu L, Zhang X, Tong Y. Association Between ACE2 and Lung Diseases. Infect Drug Resist 2024; 17:1771-1780. [PMID: 38736435 PMCID: PMC11088384 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s445180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an important regulator of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS). Additionally, it has been identified as a functional receptor for the Coronavirus. Research indicates that ACE2 plays a role in the regulation of cardiovascular systems by modulating blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Its role in pulmonary diseases has also garnered significant attention due to the widespread prevalence of Coronavirus. There is solid evidence linking ACE2 to other pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, allergic asthma, among others. However, the exact pathological and physiological mechanisms of ACE2 in these diseases remain elusive. Our research aims to review and explore the latest advancements in ACE2-related studies in pulmonary diseases. These findings have the potential to open new avenues for utilizing ACE2 as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Su
- School of Public Health, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cai Li
- Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Center, Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Hu
- Global Study Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Public Health, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linlin Liu
- Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Center, Hubei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianfeng Zhang
- Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Center, Hubei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yeqing Tong
- Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Center, Hubei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Peng S, Huang H, Chen J, Ding X, Zhu X, Liu Y, Chen L, Lu Z. Impact of Anti-angiogenic Drugs on Severity of COVID-19 in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2024; 23:15330338241248573. [PMID: 38656242 PMCID: PMC11044805 DOI: 10.1177/15330338241248573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has reshaped oncology practice, but the impact of anti-angiogenic drugs on the severity of COVID-19 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Patients and Methods: We carried out a retrospective study involving 166 consecutive patients with NSCLC who were positive for COVID-19, aiming to determine the effects of anti-angiogenic drugs on disease severity, as defined by severe/critical symptoms, intensive care unit (ICU) admission/intubation, and mortality outcomes. Risk factors were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Of the participants, 73 had been administered anti-angiogenic drugs (termed the anti-angiogenic therapy (AT) group), while 93 had not (non-AT group). Comparative analyses showed no significant disparity in the rates of severe/critical symptoms (21.9% vs 35.5%, P = 0.057), ICU admission/intubation (6.8% vs 7.5%, P = 0.867), or death (11.0% vs 9.7%, P = 0.787) between these two groups. However, elevated risk factors for worse outcomes included age ≥ 60 (odds ratio (OR): 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-5.92), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or higher (OR: 21.29, 95% CI: 4.98-91.01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 7.25, 95% CI: 1.65-31.81), hypertension (OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.20-7.39), and use of immunoglobulin (OR: 5.26, 95% CI: 1.06-26.25). Conclusion: Our data suggests that the use of anti-angiogenic drugs may not exacerbate COVID-19 severity in NSCLC patients, indicating their potential safe application even during the pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Peng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hongxiang Huang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jinhong Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xinjing Ding
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xie Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhihui Lu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
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Schwerdtner M, Skalik A, Limburg H, Bierwagen J, Jung AL, Dorna J, Kaufmann A, Bauer S, Schmeck B, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E. Expression of TMPRSS2 is up-regulated by bacterial flagellin, LPS, and Pam3Cys in human airway cells. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201813. [PMID: 37208193 PMCID: PMC10200810 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Many viruses require proteolytic activation of their envelope proteins for infectivity, and relevant host proteases provide promising drug targets. The transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) has been identified as a major activating protease of influenza A virus (IAV) and various coronaviruses (CoV). Increased TMPRSS2 expression has been associated with a higher risk of severe influenza infection and enhanced susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we found that Legionella pneumophila stimulates the increased expression of TMPRSS2-mRNA in Calu-3 human airway cells. We identified flagellin as the dominant structural component inducing TMPRSS2 expression. The flagellin-induced increase was not observed at this magnitude for other virus-activating host proteases. TMPRSS2-mRNA expression was also significantly increased by LPS, Pam3Cys, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, although less pronounced. Multicycle replication of H1N1pdm and H3N2 IAV but not SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV was enhanced by flagellin treatment. Our data suggest that bacteria, particularly flagellated bacteria, up-regulate the expression of TMPRSS2 in human airway cells and, thereby, may support enhanced activation and replication of IAV upon co-infections. In addition, our data indicate a physiological role of TMPRSS2 in antimicrobial host response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Schwerdtner
- Institute of Virology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Annika Skalik
- Institute of Virology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hannah Limburg
- Institute of Virology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jeff Bierwagen
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Philipps-University Marburg, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
| | - Anna Lena Jung
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Philipps-University Marburg, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
| | - Jens Dorna
- Institute of Immunology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kaufmann
- Institute of Immunology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bauer
- Institute of Immunology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Schmeck
- Institute for Lung Research, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Philipps-University Marburg, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany, Member of the German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF), Marburg, Germany
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4
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Toppen W, Yan P, Markovic D, Shover CM, Buhr RG, Fulcher JA, Tashkin DP, Barjaktarevic I. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is Not Associated with In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19: An Observational Cohort Analysis. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2022; 17:3111-3121. [PMID: 36570857 PMCID: PMC9788836 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s386463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with worsened outcomes in COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). However, data remain fraught with heterogeneity and bias from comorbid conditions. Additionally, data on the impact of COPD-specific factors, such as pre-hospital medications and pulmonologist involvement, remain sparse. Objective We report a single-center analysis of COPD patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to those without COPD. Primary outcomes include ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. Methods We evaluated all patients ≥40 years admitted with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 between February 2020 and February 2021. COPD was defined by documented ICD-10 diagnosis of COPD, confirmed smoking history, and active bronchodilator use. We compared outcomes between COPD patients and the remainder of the COVID-19 cohort. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and comorbid conditions. Results Of 1537 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 122 (7.9%) carried a diagnosis of COPD. The COPD cohort was older (74 ± 13 vs 66 ± 15 years, P < 0.001) and more often former smokers (P < 0.001). Comorbid conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease were more prevalent in the COPD group (P < 0.001). After adjusting for comorbid conditions, the COPD cohort had higher severity scores and trended towards fewer hospital-free days. Among patients with COPD, pre-hospital use of aspirin was associated with decreased ICU admissions (aHR 0.56, P = 0.049) and mechanical ventilation (aHR 0.25, P = 0.008), while LAMAs (long-acting muscarinic antagonists) were associated with decreased in-hospital mortality (aHR 0.34, P = 0.047). Involvement of pulmonology in pre-hospital management of COPD was not found to significantly affect outcomes. Conclusion When corrected for comorbid illnesses, COPD was associated with more severe disease but not with increased ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, or in-hospital mortality rates. Among COPD patients, prehospital treatment with aspirin and COPD-directed therapies were associated with improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Toppen
- Section of Hospital Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Yan
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniela Markovic
- Department of Medicine Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn M Shover
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Offsite Care, Santa Rosa, CA, USA
| | - Russell G Buhr
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Department of Medicine, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Fulcher
- Department of Medicine, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Donald P Tashkin
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Igor Barjaktarevic
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA,Correspondence: Igor Barjaktarevic, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 43118 CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, Email
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5
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Robertson J, Nellgård B, Hultén LM, Nilsson S, Dalla K, Börjesson M, Zetterberg H, Svanvik J, Gisslén M. Sex difference in circulating soluble form of ACE2 protein in moderate and severe COVID-19 and healthy controls. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1058120. [PMID: 36569121 PMCID: PMC9773379 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1058120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) in epithelial cells is the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2. The extracellular portion of ACE2 may be shedded to plasma in which process ADAM17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17) is important. Results on the relationship between circulating levels of the soluble form of ACE2 (sACE2) and disease severity are inconclusive. This study investigates if sACE2 concentration correlates with COVID-19 severity, and whether this is affected by sex. Materials and methods Soluble form of ACE2 was analyzed in three groups: 104 patients (23 women and 81 men) with severe COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), patients with moderate COVID-19 who required hospital care (n = 19, 4 women and 15 men), and age and sex matched healthy controls (n = 20, 4 women and 16 men). Blood samples were collected at hospital admission between 18 March 2020, and 3 May 2021, and at follow-up between 27 October 2020, and 19 October 2021. Circulating sACE2 (μg/L) was measured in EDTA plasma with a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, CRP, ferritin, and lymphocyte count were analyzed during hospital stay. Results In total, 23 patients (22%) died in the ICU. When comparing healthy controls [mean age 58.1 (SD 11.4) years] and patients with moderate COVID-19 [mean age 61.0 (SD 13.2) years] with patients in the ICU [mean age 63.6 (SD 11.6) years], we found that sACE2 concentration decreased (70% reduction) with disease severity in men (p = 0.002) but increased 3.7-fold with severity in women (p = 0.043), suggesting a sex-related difference in how COVID-19 severity is related to sACE2 concentration. Moreover, we identified a relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and sACE2 concentration during the intensive care treatment, such that higher CRP and higher ferritin concentration correlated with lower sACE2 concentration in men. Conclusion The decrease in sACE2 concentration, selectively in men, in severe COVID-19 is of pathophysiological interest since men are affected more severely by the disease compared to women. Additionally, the inflammatory biomarkers, CRP and ferritin, correlated inversely with sACE2 concentration, suggesting a role in severe disease. Our findings imply that sACE2 is a possible biomarker of disease severity in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Robertson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,*Correspondence: Josefina Robertson,
| | - Bengt Nellgård
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive care, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lillemor Mattsson Hultén
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Staffan Nilsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Keti Dalla
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive care, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mats Börjesson
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Center for Health and Performance, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom,United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom,Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joar Svanvik
- The Transplant Institute, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Gisslén
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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6
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Calver J, Fabbri L, May J, Jenkins R. COVID-19 in patients with chronic lung disease. Clin Chest Med 2022. [PMID: 37085227 PMCID: PMC9678841 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that causes an acute respiratory tract infection known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 enters cells by binding the ACE2 receptor and coreceptors notably TMPRSS2 or Cathepsin L. Severe COVID-19 infection can lead to acute lung injury. Below we describe the current evidence of the impact of common chronic lung diseases (CLDs) on the development of COVID-19. The impact of treatment of CLD on COVID-19 and any risk of vaccination in patients with CLD are considered.
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Devadoss D, Acharya A, Manevski M, Houserova D, Cioffi MD, Pandey K, Nair M, Chapagain P, Mirsaeidi M, Borchert GM, Byrareddy SN, Chand HS. Immunomodulatory LncRNA on antisense strand of ICAM-1 augments SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated airway mucoinflammatory phenotype. iScience 2022; 25:104685. [PMID: 35789750 PMCID: PMC9242679 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs are important regulators of mucoinflammatory response, but little is known about the contribution of airway long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in COVID-19. RNA-seq analysis showed a more than 4-fold increased expression of IL-6, ICAM-1, CXCL-8, and SCGB1A1 inflammatory factors; MUC5AC and MUC5B mucins; and SPDEF, FOXA3, and FOXJ1 transcription factors in COVID-19 patient nasal samples compared with uninfected controls. A lncRNA on antisense strand to ICAM-1 or LASI was induced 2-fold in COVID-19 patients, and its expression was directly correlated with viral loads. A SARS-CoV-2-infected 3D-airway model largely recapitulated these clinical findings. RNA microscopy and molecular modeling indicated a possible interaction between viral RNA and LASI lncRNA. Notably, blocking LASI lncRNA reduced the SARS-CoV-2 replication and suppressed MUC5AC mucin levels and associated inflammation, and select LASI-dependent miRNAs (e.g., let-7b-5p and miR-200a-5p) were implicated. Thus, LASI lncRNA represents an essential facilitator of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated airway mucoinflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Devadoss
- Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Arpan Acharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Marko Manevski
- Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Dominika Houserova
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Michael D. Cioffi
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Kabita Pandey
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Madhavan Nair
- Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Prem Chapagain
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA,Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirsaeidi
- Miller School of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Glen M. Borchert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Siddappa N. Byrareddy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Hitendra S. Chand
- Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA,Corresponding author
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Christou H, Khalil RA. Mechanisms of pulmonary vascular dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension and implications for novel therapies. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 322:H702-H724. [PMID: 35213243 PMCID: PMC8977136 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00021.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious disease characterized by various degrees of pulmonary vasoconstriction and progressive fibroproliferative remodeling and inflammation of the pulmonary arterioles that lead to increased pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular hypertrophy, and failure. Pulmonary vascular tone is regulated by a balance between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator mediators, and a shift in this balance to vasoconstriction is an important component of PH pathology, Therefore, the mainstay of current pharmacological therapies centers on pulmonary vasodilation methodologies that either enhance vasodilator mechanisms such as the NO-cGMP and prostacyclin-cAMP pathways and/or inhibit vasoconstrictor mechanisms such as the endothelin-1, cytosolic Ca2+, and Rho-kinase pathways. However, in addition to the increased vascular tone, many patients have a "fixed" component in their disease that involves altered biology of various cells in the pulmonary vascular wall, excessive pulmonary artery remodeling, and perivascular fibrosis and inflammation. Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) phenotypic switch from a contractile to a synthetic and proliferative phenotype is an important factor in pulmonary artery remodeling. Although current vasodilator therapies also have some antiproliferative effects on PASMCs, they are not universally successful in halting PH progression and increasing survival. Mild acidification and other novel approaches that aim to reverse the resident pulmonary vascular pathology and structural remodeling and restore a contractile PASMC phenotype could ameliorate vascular remodeling and enhance the responsiveness of PH to vasodilator therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Christou
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Raouf A Khalil
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Olschewski H, Eber E, Bucher B, Hackner K, Handzhiev S, Hoetzenecker K, Idzko M, Klepetko W, Kovacs G, Lamprecht B, Löffler-Ragg J, Meilinger M, Müller A, Prior C, Schindler O, Täubl H, Zacharasiewicz A, Zwick RH, Arns BM, Bolitschek J, Cima K, Gingrich E, Hochmair M, Horak F, Jaksch P, Kropfmüller R, Pfleger A, Puchner B, Puelacher C, Rodriguez P, Salzer HJF, Schenk P, Stelzmüller I, Strenger V, Urban M, Wagner M, Wimberger F, Flick H. Management of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections with focus on patients with chronic lung diseases (as of 10 January 2022) : Updated statement of the Austrian Society of Pneumology (ASP). Wien Klin Wochenschr 2022. [PMID: 35449467 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-022-02018-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Austrian Society of Pneumology (ASP) launched a first statement on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in May 2020, at a time when in Austria 285 people had died from this disease and vaccinations were not available. Lockdown and social distancing were the only available measures to prevent more infections and the breakdown of the health system. Meanwhile, in Austria over 13,000 patients have died in association with a SARS-CoV‑2 infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was among the most common causes of death; however, SARS-CoV‑2 has been mutating all the time and currently, most patients have been affected by the delta variant where the vaccination is very effective but the omicron variant is rapidly rising and becoming predominant. Particularly in children and young adults, where the vaccination rate is low, the omicron variant is expected to spread very fast. This poses a particular threat to unvaccinated people who are at elevated risk of severe COVID-19 disease but also to people with an active vaccination. There are few publications that comprehensively addressed the special issues with SARS-CoV‑2 infection in patients with chronic lung diseases. These were the reasons for this updated statement. Pulmonologists care for many patients with an elevated risk of death in case of COVID-19 but also for patients that might be at an elevated risk of vaccination reactions or vaccination failure. In addition, lung function tests, bronchoscopy, respiratory physiotherapy and training therapy may put both patients and health professionals at an increased risk of infection. The working circles of the ASP have provided statements concerning these risks and how to avoid risks for the patients.
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10
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Krenn K, Tretter V, Kraft F, Ullrich R. The Renin-Angiotensin System as a Component of Biotrauma in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Front Physiol 2022; 12:806062. [PMID: 35498160 PMCID: PMC9043684 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.806062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major concern in critical care medicine with a high mortality of over 30%. Injury to the lungs is caused not only by underlying pathological conditions such as pneumonia, sepsis, or trauma, but also by ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) resulting from high positive pressure levels and a high inspiratory oxygen fraction. Apart from mechanical factors that stress the lungs with a specific physical power and cause volutrauma and barotrauma, it is increasingly recognized that lung injury is further aggravated by biological mediators. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased interest in the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the context of ARDS, as the RAS enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 serves as the primary cell entry receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV)-2. Even before this pandemic, studies have documented the involvement of the RAS in VILI and its dysregulation in clinical ARDS. In recent years, analytical tools for RAS investigation have made major advances based on the optimized precision and detail of mass spectrometry. Given that many clinical trials with pharmacological interventions in ARDS were negative, RAS-modifying drugs may represent an interesting starting point for novel therapeutic approaches. Results from animal models have highlighted the potential of RAS-modifying drugs to prevent VILI or treat ARDS. While these drugs have beneficial pulmonary effects, the best targets and application forms for intervention still have to be determined to avoid negative effects on the circulation in clinical settings.
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Mortaz E, Jamaati H, Roofchayee ND, Sheikhzade H, Mirenayat M, Sadeghi M, Lookzadeh S, Dezfuli NK, Folkerts G, Mumby S, Garssen J, Adcock IM. Decreased serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 and enhanced cytokine levels with severity of COVID-19: normalisation upon disease recovery. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08957. [PMID: 35187271 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Circulating soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE2)2, the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2, together with components of the renin-angiotensin system promote infection and disease severity. Objective This pilot study followed the time-course of sACE2 levels in relation to systemic cytokines in severe and moderate COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir/dexamethasone in combination. Methods Peripheral blood was obtained upon admission from 30 patients (12 with moderate disease and 18 with severe disease) and 14 patients with PCR-confirmed mild COVID-19. Severe and moderate patients were treated with remdesivir (200mg/first day and 100mg/day for the remaining days) and dexamethasone (100mg/day). 6 healthy control subjects (HC) were also enrolled. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 and sACE2 levels were measured by ELISA at baseline and during treatment in severe and moderate patients and at baseline in mild and HCs. Results Baseline sACE2 levels were lower in severe (p = 0.0005) and moderate (p = 0.0022) patients than in patients with mild COVID-19 and in HC (p = 0.0023 and p = 0.0012 respectively). Treatment significantly increased sACE2 levels in patients with moderate disease (p = 0.0156) but only 50% of patients with severe disease showed enhanced levels compared to baseline. Systemic IL-6 and IL-8 levels were higher in all patient groups compared with HC and were not significantly affected over time or by remdesivir/dexamethasone treatment for 5 days. Conclusion Serum sACE2 levels increase in severe COVID-19 patients as they recover over time whilst circulating cytokines are unaffected. Future studies should link these results to clinical outcomes.
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Hasankhani A, Bahrami A, Sheybani N, Aria B, Hemati B, Fatehi F, Ghaem Maghami Farahani H, Javanmard G, Rezaee M, Kastelic JP, Barkema HW. Differential Co-Expression Network Analysis Reveals Key Hub-High Traffic Genes as Potential Therapeutic Targets for COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Immunol 2022; 12:789317. [PMID: 34975885 PMCID: PMC8714803 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.789317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The recent emergence of COVID-19, rapid worldwide spread, and incomplete knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection have limited development of therapeutic strategies. Our objective was to systematically investigate molecular regulatory mechanisms of COVID-19, using a combination of high throughput RNA-sequencing-based transcriptomics and systems biology approaches. Methods RNA-Seq data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy persons, mild and severe 17 COVID-19 patients were analyzed to generate a gene expression matrix. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify co-expression modules in healthy samples as a reference set. For differential co-expression network analysis, module preservation and module-trait relationships approaches were used to identify key modules. Then, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, based on co-expressed hub genes, were constructed to identify hub genes/TFs with the highest information transfer (hub-high traffic genes) within candidate modules. Results Based on differential co-expression network analysis, connectivity patterns and network density, 72% (15 of 21) of modules identified in healthy samples were altered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 caused systemic perturbations in host biological gene networks. In functional enrichment analysis, among 15 non-preserved modules and two significant highly-correlated modules (identified by MTRs), 9 modules were directly related to the host immune response and COVID-19 immunopathogenesis. Intriguingly, systemic investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection identified signaling pathways and key genes/proteins associated with COVID-19's main hallmarks, e.g., cytokine storm, respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute lung injury (ALI), lymphopenia, coagulation disorders, thrombosis, and pregnancy complications, as well as comorbidities associated with COVID-19, e.g., asthma, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), liver disorders and acute kidney injury (AKI). Topological analysis with betweenness centrality (BC) identified 290 hub-high traffic genes, central in both co-expression and PPI networks. We also identified several transcriptional regulatory factors, including NFKB1, HIF1A, AHR, and TP53, with important immunoregulatory roles in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, several hub-high traffic genes, including IL6, IL1B, IL10, TNF, SOCS1, SOCS3, ICAM1, PTEN, RHOA, GDI2, SUMO1, CASP1, IRAK3, HSPA5, ADRB2, PRF1, GZMB, OASL, CCL5, HSP90AA1, HSPD1, IFNG, MAPK1, RAB5A, and TNFRSF1A had the highest rates of information transfer in 9 candidate modules and central roles in COVID-19 immunopathogenesis. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive information on molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-host interactions and identifies several hub-high traffic genes as promising therapeutic targets for the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliakbar Hasankhani
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Bahrami
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.,Biomedical Center for Systems Biology Science Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Negin Sheybani
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Aria
- Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Behzad Hemati
- Biotechnology Research Center, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
| | - Farhang Fatehi
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | | | - Ghazaleh Javanmard
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mahsa Rezaee
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - John P Kastelic
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Herman W Barkema
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Triposkiadis F, Xanthopoulos A, Giamouzis G, Boudoulas KD, Starling RC, Skoularigis J, Boudoulas H, Iliodromitis E. ACE2, the Counter-Regulatory Renin-Angiotensin System Axis and COVID-19 Severity. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3885. [PMID: 34501332 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10173885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiotensin (ANG)-converting enzyme (ACE2) is an entry receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ACE2 also contributes to a deviation of the lung renin-angiotensin system (RAS) towards its counter-regulatory axis, thus transforming harmful ANG II to protective ANG (1-7). Based on this purported ACE2 double function, it has been put forward that the benefit from ACE2 upregulation with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) counterbalances COVID-19 risks due to counter-regulatory RAS axis amplification. In this manuscript we discuss the relationship between ACE2 expression and function in the lungs and other organs and COVID-19 severity. Recent data suggested that the involvement of ACE2 in the lung counter-regulatory RAS axis is limited. In this setting, an augmentation of ACE2 expression and/or a dissociation of ACE2 from the ANG (1-7)/Mas pathways that leaves unopposed the ACE2 function, the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor, predisposes to more severe disease and it appears to often occur in the relevant risk factors. Further, the effect of RAASi on ACE2 expression and on COVID-19 severity and the overall clinical implications are discussed.
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