Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on retrieved thrombi from COVID-19 patients

Manuela De Michele; Giulia d’Amati; Martina Leopizzi; Marta Iacobucci; Irene Berto; Svetlana Lorenzano; Laura Mazzuti; Ombretta Turriziani; Oscar G. Schiavo; Danilo Toni

doi:10.1186/s13045-022-01329-w

Journal of Hematology & Oncology (Aug 2022)

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on retrieved thrombi from COVID-19 patients

Manuela De Michele,
Giulia d’Amati,
Martina Leopizzi,
Marta Iacobucci,
Irene Berto,
Svetlana Lorenzano,
Laura Mazzuti,
Ombretta Turriziani,
Oscar G. Schiavo,
Danilo Toni

Affiliations

Manuela De Michele: Emergency Department, Stroke Unit, Sapienza University of Rome
Giulia d’Amati: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Pathological Science, Sapienza University of Rome
Martina Leopizzi: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome
Marta Iacobucci: Department of Human Neurosciences, Neuroradiology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome
Irene Berto: Emergency Department, Stroke Unit, Sapienza University of Rome
Svetlana Lorenzano: Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome
Laura Mazzuti: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome
Ombretta Turriziani: Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
Oscar G. Schiavo: Emergency Department, Stroke Unit, Sapienza University of Rome
Danilo Toni: Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-022-01329-w
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 5

Abstract

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Abstract The pathophysiology of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy is complex and not fully understood. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP) may activate platelets and interact with fibrin(ogen). We aimed to investigate whether isolated SP can be present in clots retrieved in COVID-19 patients with acute ischemic stroke (by mechanical thrombectomy) and myocardial infarction. In this pilot study, we could detect SP, but not nucleocapsid protein, on platelets of COVID-19 patients’ thrombi. In addition, in all three COVID-19 thrombi analyzed for molecular biology, no SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. These data could support the hypothesis that free SP, besides the whole virus, may be the trigger of platelet activation and clot formation in COVID-19.

Published in Journal of Hematology & Oncology

ISSN: 1756-8722 (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://jhoonline.biomedcentral.com/

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