SARS-CoV-2 spike S1-mediated HIF-2α activation in retinal endothelial cells suggests a mechanism contributing to post-COVID endothelial dysfunction - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #endothelial dysfunction
- #HIF-2α
- #post-COVID syndrome
- PCS patients show increased levels of erythropoietin, VEGF, and MCP-1 compared to healthy controls.
- SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 induces ROS production, HIF-2α activation, VEGFR2 upregulation, and impairs endothelial barrier integrity in HRECs.
- Plasma from severe PCS patients also elevates ROS and mildly disrupts endothelial barrier function.
- Inhibition of HIF-2α with belzutifan improves endothelial barrier integrity in S1- and PCS-plasma-treated cells.
- The study suggests HIF-2α activation by S1 as a mechanism for endothelial dysfunction in post-COVID syndrome.