Title : The effect of Coronavirus on vascular endothelial cells

Abstract:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can cause potentially life-threatening coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a multisystem disease and is associated with significant respiratory distress, systemic hyperinflammation, vasculitis, and multi-organ failure. SARS-CoV-2 causes the deterioration of numerous systems, with increasing evidence implying that COVID-19 affects the endothelium and vascular function. The endothelium is important for preserving vascular tone and homeostasis. The over-activation and dysfunction of endothelial cells are significant outcomes of severity in patients with COVID-19. The Angiopoietin 1/Tie 2 pathway is important in endothelium quiescence and vessel stability. The disruption of Angiopoietin/Tie balance affects the vessel contact barrier and leads to vessel leakage, and this in turn causes endothelial dysfunction. This study aims to determine whether Coronavirus could productively infect vascular endothelial cells and impact Tie receptor expression and consequently Ang1 signaling mediators. The preliminary results demonstrated that Coronavirus is capable of infecting endothelial cells and affecting Tie2/Tie1, which subsequently leads to the regulation of Ang1 signaling.