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Thromb Haemost 2022; 122(10): 1706-1711
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1733934
Cellular Haemostasis and Platelets

Platelet Surface Protein Expression and Reactivity upon TRAP Stimulation after BNT162b2 Vaccination

Melissa Klug‡   *
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
2   German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
3   Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Olga Lazareva‡   *
3   Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Kilian Kirmes
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Marc Rosenbaum
4   School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
5   TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Marina Lukas
6   Department of Internal Medicine III, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Simon Weidlich
7   Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Christoph D. Spinner
7   Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Moritz von Scheidt
2   German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
8   Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Cardiology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Rosanna Gosetti
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Jan Baumbach
9   Chair of Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
,
Jürgen Ruland
4   School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
5   TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Gianluigi Condorelli
10   Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS and Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
,
Karl-Ludwig Laugwitz
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
2   German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
,
Markus List   **
3   Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
,
Isabell Bernlochner   **
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
2   German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
,
Dario Bongiovanni   **
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
2   German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
10   Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS and Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK grant number 81X3600606 to D.B.). J.B. and M.L. are grateful for financial support from BMBF grant Sys_CARE (grant number01ZX1908A) of the Federal German Ministry of Research and Education. The work of O.L. was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts as part of the Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt).
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Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection induces a coagulopathy characterized by platelet activation and a hypercoagulable state with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events. The viral spike protein S has been reported to enhance thrombosis formation, stimulate platelets to release procoagulant factors, and promote the formation of platelet–leukocyte aggregates even in absence of the virus. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induce spike protein overexpression to trigger SARS-CoV-2-specific immune protection, thrombocyte activity has not been investigated in this context. Here, we provide the first phenotypic platelet characterization of healthy human subjects undergoing BNT162b2 vaccination. Using mass cytometry, we analyzed the expression of constitutive transmembrane receptors, adhesion proteins, and platelet activation markers in 12 healthy donors before and at five different time points within 4 weeks after the first BNT162b2 administration. We measured platelet reactivity by stimulating thrombocyte activation with thrombin receptor-activating peptide. Activation marker expression (P-selectin, LAMP-3, LAMP-1, CD40L, and PAC-1) did not change after vaccination. All investigated constitutive transmembrane proteins showed similar expressions over time. Platelet reactivity was not altered after BNT162b2 administration. Activation marker expression was significantly lower compared with an independent cohort of mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients analyzed with the same platform. This study reveals that BNT162b2 administration does not alter platelet protein expression and reactivity.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines - platelets - COVID-19 - platelet activation

* Equal contribution.


** These authors are joint senior authors.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 18 May 2021

Accepted: 02 July 2021

Article published online:
13 August 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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