SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, has generated a global emergency. The endothelium is a target of SARS-CoV-2, generating endothelial dysfunction, an essential step for the development of cardiovascular complications. The number of endothelial progenitor cells acts as an indicator of vascular damage. However, its role in SARS-CoV-2 is unknown. The aim of this study was to quantify the number of endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) and assess for the first time if there is a significant increase after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study also evaluates whether the number of ECFC is related to the presence of pulmonary embolism (PE), and if this increase correlates with any of the clinical parameters studied. A total of 63 subjects were recruited including 32 subjects 3-months after overcoming COVID-19 and 31 healthy controls. The results confirm the presence of vascular sequelae in post-COVID-19 patients, with an abnormal increase in the number of ECFCs in blood circulation compared to controls (2.81 ± 2.33 vs 1.23 ± 1.86, P = 0.001). There was no difference in ECFC production in COVID-19 who presented acute PE compared to those that did not (3.21 ± 2.49 vs 2.50 ± 2.23, P > 0.05). The appearance of ECFC colonies in COVID-19 patients was significantly related to male gender (P = 0.003), the presence of systemic hypertension (P = 0.01) and elevated hemoglobin levels (P = 0.02) at the time of ECFC isolation and lower PaO2 levels (P = 0.01) at admission. Whether these results indicate a prompt response of the patient to repair the damaged endothelium or reflect a postinfection injury that will persist in time is not known.
【저자키워드】 Lymphocytes, Diabetes Mellitus, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, body mass index, Pulmonary embolism, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, fibrinogen, erythropoietin, hemoglobin, dyslipidemia, hematocrit, 6-minute walk test, forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, Arterial hypertension, CRPC-reactive protein, LDHlactate dehydrogenase, BMIbody mass index, PEPulmonary Embolism, EPOerythropoietin, ACE-2Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2, 6MWT6-minute walk test, DDDimer-D, Dimer-D, DLCOCarbon monoxide diffusing capacity, Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, DLPDyslipidemia, DMDiabetes mellitus, ECFCEndothelial colony forming cell, Endothelial colony forming cell, EPCEndothelial progenitor cell, Endothelial progenitor cell, FEVForced expiratory volume, FIBFibrinogen, FVCForced vital capacity, HbHemoglobin, HTAArterial hypertension, HTCHematocrit, LymLymphocytes, MFMaximum ferritin, Maximum ferritin, PaO2Partial pressure of oxygen, Partial pressure of oxygen, PBMC'sPeripheral blood mononuclear cells, RVResidual volume, Residual volume, TLCTotal lung capacity, Total lung capacity, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-COV-2 infection, Gender, hypertension, Endothelial dysfunction, Endothelium, male, Isolation, Control, Admission, cardiovascular complications, Injury, Vascular damage, Post-COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 patient, endothelial, Vascular, PaO2, subject, significant increase, no difference, healthy controls, colony, clinical parameter, blood circulation, Postinfection, evaluate, significantly, recruited, the patient, elevated, damaged, abnormal increase, colony forming cell, progenitor cell, 【제목키워드】 Patient, endothelial, Cell,