Platelets from COVID-19 Patients Show an Altered Nitric Oxide/Reactive Oxygen Species Production Balance

Eleonora Petito; Giuseppe Guglielmini; Edoardo De Robertis; Cecilia Becattini; Laura Franco; Emanuela Falcinelli; Chiara Conti; Fabio Gori; Gaetano Vaudo; Vittorio Cerotto; Ugo Paliani; Letizia Mezzasoma; Barbara Camilloni; Paolo Gresele; COVIR study investigators

doi:10.1055/a-2562-4516

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2025; 125(07): 660-672
DOI: 10.1055/a-2562-4516

Cellular Hemostasis and Platelets

Platelets from COVID-19 Patients Show an Altered Nitric Oxide/Reactive Oxygen Species Production Balance

Authors

Eleonora Petito

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Giuseppe Guglielmini

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Edoardo De Robertis

²Division of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Intensive Care, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Cecilia Becattini

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Laura Franco

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Emanuela Falcinelli

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Chiara Conti

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Fabio Gori

³Section of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Santa Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy
Gaetano Vaudo

⁴Unit of Internal Medicine, Terni University Hospital, Terni, Italy
Vittorio Cerotto

⁵Section of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Department of Emergency and Urgency, Città di Castello Hospital, Città di Castello, Italy
Ugo Paliani

⁶Division of Internal Medicine, ASL 1 Umbria, Città di Castello, Italy
Letizia Mezzasoma

⁷Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Biosciences and Medical Embryology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Barbara Camilloni

⁸Department of Medicine and Surgery, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Paolo Gresele

¹Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

COVIR study investigators

Abstract

Background

Oxidative stress has been associated with COVID-19-related thrombotic complications. No investigations have explored nitric oxide (NO) and radical oxygen species (ROS) production by platelets. Indeed, activated platelets generate both NO and ROS which in turn regulate platelet function. The aim of the present study was to measure platelet NO and ROS production in COVID-19 patients, to assess whether they correlate with disease outcome and to clarify the mechanisms of platelet NO/ROS imbalance in COVID-19.

Material and Methods

Hospitalized mild and severe COVID-19 patients, age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and patients hospitalized in intensive care units for reasons different from COVID-19 were enrolled. Platelet NO and ROS production was assessed by flow cytometry. The oxidant and antioxidant capacity of COVID-19 plasma was assessed using lipid peroxidation and ORAC assays. The effect of COVID-19 plasma on platelet NO production and the impact of antioxidants on it were studied by flow cytometry.

Results

Platelets from COVID-19 patients displayed an altered NO/ROS balance, with defective NO and increased ROS production. Platelet NO production was significantly lower in patients who developed thrombotic events during hospitalization. COVID-19 patients showed significantly increased plasma lipid peroxidation and reduced antioxidant capacity compared with healthy controls. Concordantly, plasma from COVID-19 patients impaired NO production by healthy control species platelets, which was restored by the antioxidant agent Hydroxy-TEMPO.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the unbalanced platelet NO/ROS production in COVID-19 plays a role in the thrombotic complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The restoration of platelet NO production may represent a therapeutic target for the prevention of thrombotic events in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords

COVID-19 - nitric oxide - platelets - reactive oxygen species - thrombosis

Full Text

References

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