The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
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 sig...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2940 |
| _version_ | 1797380011948244992 |
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| author | Rachelle P. Mendoza Amir Momeni Nayanendu Saha Juwairiya Arshi Elmer C. Gabutan Nichole Alejandro Alejandro Zuretti Prem K. Premsrirut Dimitar B. Nikolov |
| author_facet | Rachelle P. Mendoza Amir Momeni Nayanendu Saha Juwairiya Arshi Elmer C. Gabutan Nichole Alejandro Alejandro Zuretti Prem K. Premsrirut Dimitar B. Nikolov |
| author_sort | Rachelle P. Mendoza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c805ffd9a79c4f5e939fd06e43625d10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-c805ffd9a79c4f5e939fd06e43625d102023-12-22T14:26:09ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-12-011112294010.3390/microorganisms11122940The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 PatientsRachelle P. Mendoza0Amir Momeni1Nayanendu Saha2Juwairiya Arshi3Elmer C. Gabutan4Nichole Alejandro5Alejandro Zuretti6Prem K. Premsrirut7Dimitar B. Nikolov8Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USADepartment of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USAStructural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USADepartment of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USABouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USADepartment of Cell Biology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USAStructural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USAThe 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2940COVID-19angiopoietinCOVID-19-related vasculitis |
| spellingShingle | Rachelle P. Mendoza Amir Momeni Nayanendu Saha Juwairiya Arshi Elmer C. Gabutan Nichole Alejandro Alejandro Zuretti Prem K. Premsrirut Dimitar B. Nikolov The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Microorganisms COVID-19 angiopoietin COVID-19-related vasculitis |
| title | The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients |
| title_full | The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients |
| title_fullStr | The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients |
| title_short | The Angiopoietin Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Inflammatory Processes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients |
| title_sort | angiopoietin signaling pathway is involved in inflammatory processes in hospitalized covid 19 patients |
| topic | COVID-19 angiopoietin COVID-19-related vasculitis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2940 |
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