Abstract
In the novel pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019, high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to endothelial activation and dysfunction, promoting a pro-coagulative state, thrombotic events, and microvasculature injuries. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on pro-inflammatory cytokines, tissue factor, and chemokine release, with Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1). ACE2 receptor expression was evaluated by western blot analysis. SARS-CoV-2 infection was assessed by one-step RT-PCR until 7 days post-infection (p.i.), and by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IFN-α, and hTF mRNA expression levels were detected by RT-PCR, while cytokine release was evaluated by ELISA. HMEC-1 expressed ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 infection showed a constant viral load. TEM analysis showed virions localized in the cytoplasm. Expression of IL-6 at 24 h and IFN-α mRNA at 24 h and 48 h p.i. was higher in infected than uninfected HMEC-1 ( p < 0.05). IL-6 levels were significantly higher in supernatants from infected HMEC-1 ( p < 0.001) at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h p.i., while IL-8 levels were significantly lower at 24 h p.i. ( p < 0.001). These data indicate that in vitro microvascular endothelial cells are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection but slightly contribute to viral amplification. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection might trigger the increase of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Keywords: Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1); SARS-CoV-2; inflammatory mediators.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Inflammatory mediators, Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1), 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Coronavirus disease 2019, pandemic, Cytokines, IL-6, SARS-COV-2 infection, Human, ACE2 receptor, in vitro, RT-PCR, ELISA, chemokine, Viral load, mRNA, western blot, IL-8, pro-inflammatory cytokines, transmission electron microscopy, expression, Thrombotic events, TNF-α, Endothelial cell, Tissue Factor, Inflammatory mediators, Analysis, IFN-α, IL-6 levels, cytoplasm, dysfunction, endothelial, Activation, tissue, These data, thrombotic, pro-inflammatory cytokine, pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokine release, virion, Western blot analysis, virions, supernatant, mRNA expression, significantly lower, electron, uninfected, TEM, susceptible, supernatants, viral amplification, evaluated, contribute, expressed, significantly higher, days post-infection, IL-6 level, 【제목키워드】 Release, Effect,