Caracterização do perfil de microvesículas circulantes na infecção por SARS-CoV-2 em pacientes e indivíduos convalescentes

Abstract

COVID-19 is an infectious disease of the human respiratory tract caused by SARS-CoV-2. The inflammatory response of COVID-19 is marked by the exacerbated release of pro-inflammatory mediators, causing significant tissue damage. Microvesicles are a type of extracellular vesicle released by all cell types, with functions such as intercellular communication and transporters of biomolecules, being able to induce inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. However, little is known about their involvement in the response against SARS-Cov-2 during the acute phase and the convalescent period. Objective: To characterize the profile of subpopulations of circulating microvesicles during the inflammatory process developed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and individuals convalescing from COVID-19. Material and methods: The immunophenotypic characterization of microvesicles, obtained by the flow cytometry technique, was performed in 15 healthy individuals, 9 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 15 convalescing individuals from COVID-19. Results: monocyte (CD14) and platelet (CD41) microvesicles were significantly decreased in patients with COVID-19, as well as in convalescent individuals compared to controls, otherwise there was a significant increase in B lymphocyte microvesicles (CD19) in the patients compared to controls and convalescent subjects. Convalescent individuals showed a higher production of endothelial cell microvesicles (CD51/61) on D30, significantly differing from healthy controls. Conclusion: our study shows that the profile of microvesicles in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 presents a low release of monocyte and platelet microvesicles, on the other hand, B lymphocyte microvesicles are elevated during the acute phase of the disease. The profile of microvesicles in convalescent individuals showed that endothelial cell microvesicles (CD51/61) were elevated, this shows us that COVID-19, in fact, is a disease that has a very extensive inflammatory response, which causes, even at low degree, a very important tissue damage