SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) results in local and systemic activation of inflammation and coagulation. In this review article, we will discuss the potential role of coagulation factor Xa (FXa) in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. FXa, a serine protease, has been shown to play a role in the cleavage of SARS-CoV-1 spike protein (SP), with the inhibition of FXa resulting in the inhibition of viral infectivity. FX is known to be primarily produced in the liver, but it is also expressed by multiple cells types, including alveolar epithelium, cardiac myocytes, and macrophages. Considering that patients with preexisting conditions, including cardiopulmonary disease, are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, we discuss the potential role of increased levels of FX in these patients, resulting in a potential increased propensity to have a higher infectious rate and viral load, increased activation of coagulation and inflammation, and development of fibrosis. With these observations in mind, we postulate as to the potential therapeutic role of FXa inhibitors as a prophylactic and therapeutic treatment for high-risk patients with COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, Coagulation, Anticoagulants, factor Xa, Factor X, 【초록키워드】 Inflammation, macrophages, severe COVID-19, SARS-COV-2 infection, fibrosis, Local, Prophylactic, SARS-CoV-1, Spike protein, Viral load, viral infectivity, pathophysiology, therapeutic, Patient, cleavage, inhibitor, liver, patients, observation, Activation, increased risk, serine protease, alveolar epithelium, Therapeutic treatment, high-risk patient, Cell, cardiopulmonary disease, produced, shown, resulting, expressed, conditions, cardiac myocytes, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 agent, role, Potential,