Endothelial cell-activating antibodies in COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: While endothelial dysfunction has been implicated in the widespread thrombo-inflammatory complications of coronavirus disease-19 ( COVID-19 ), the upstream mediators of endotheliopathy remain for the most part cryptic. Our aim was to identify circulating factors contributing to endothelial cell activation and dysfunction in COVID-19.

Methods: Human endothelial cells were cultured in the presence of serum or plasma from 244 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and plasma from 100 patients with non-COVID sepsis. Cell adhesion molecules (E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1) were quantified by in-cell ELISA.

Results: Serum and plasma from patients with COVID-19 increased surface expression of cell adhesion molecules. Furthermore, levels of soluble ICAM-1 and E-selectin were elevated in patient serum and tracked with disease severity. The presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies was a strong marker of the ability of COVID-19 serum to activate endothelium. Depletion of total IgG from antiphospholipid antibody-positive serum markedly restrained upregulation of cell adhesion molecules. Conversely, supplementation of control serum with patient IgG was sufficient to trigger endothelial activation.

Conclusion: These data are the first to suggest that some patients with COVID-19 have potentially diverse antibodies that drive endotheliopathy, adding important context regarding thrombo-inflammatory effects of autoantibodies in severe COVID-19.