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Mendoza RP, Momeni A, Saha N, Arshi J, Gabutan EC, Alejandro N, Zuretti A, Premsrirut PK, Nikolov DB. The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2940. [PMID: 38138084 PMCID: PMC10745910 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122940] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The viral agent SARS-CoV-2 clearly affects several organ systems, including the cardiovascular system. Angiopoietins are involved in vascular integrity and angiogenesis. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) promotes vessel stabilization, while angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), which is usually expressed at low levels, is significantly elevated in inflammatory and angiogenic conditions. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is known to induce defective angiogenesis via the activation of the Ang2 pathway. Vasculitis and vasculopathy are some of the defining features of moderate to severe COVID-19-associated systemic disease. We investigated the serum levels of angiopoietins, as well as interleukin-6 levels and anti-SARS-CoV2 IgG titers, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients across disease severity and healthy controls. Ang2 levels were elevated in COVID-19 patients across all severity compared to healthy controls, while Ang1 levels were decreased. The patients with adverse outcomes (death and/or prolonged hospitalization) had relatively lower and stable Ang1 levels but continuously elevated Ang2 levels, while those who had no adverse outcomes had increasing levels of both Ang1 and Ang2, followed by a decrease in both. These results suggest that the dynamic levels of Ang1 and Ang2 during the clinical course may predict adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Ang1 seems to play an important role in controlling Ang2-related inflammatory mechanisms in COVID-19 patients. IL-6 and anti-SARS-CoV2 spike protein IgG levels were significantly elevated in patients with severe disease. Our findings represent an informative pilot assessment into the role of the angiopoietin signaling pathway in the inflammatory response in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle P. Mendoza
- Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
| | - Amir Momeni
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Nayanendu Saha
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Juwairiya Arshi
- Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;
| | - Elmer C. Gabutan
- Department of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (E.C.G.); (A.Z.)
| | - Nichole Alejandro
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Alejandro Zuretti
- Department of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (E.C.G.); (A.Z.)
| | - Prem K. Premsrirut
- Department of Cell Biology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA;
- Mirimus Inc., 760 Parkside Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226, USA
| | - Dimitar B. Nikolov
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA;
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