A strong correlation exists between platelet consumption and platelet hyperactivation in COVID-19 patients. Pilot study of the patient cohort from CCH RAS Hospital (Troitsk).

Abstract

It is known that in COVID-19, hypercoagulation and sometimes thrombocytopenia are related to disease severity. There is also controversial data on platelet participation in COVID-19 pathology. We aimed to determine the degree of platelet hyperactivation in COVID-19 patients. Whole blood flow cytometry with Annexin-V and lactadherin staining ("PS+ platelets") was utilized. Additionally, a stochastic mathematical model of platelet production and consumption was developed. Here we demonstrated that the percentage of PS+ platelets in COVID-19 patients was twofold that of healthy donors. There was a significant correlation between the amount of PS+ platelets and the percentage of lung damage in patients. No connection was found between platelet senescence and hospital therapy or patients' chronic diseases, except for chronic lung disease. Although no thrombocytopenia was observed in patients, the observed increase in platelet size (FSC-A parameter in flow cytometry) could indicate that platelet age is decreased in patients. The developed computational model of platelet turnover confirms the possibility of intense platelet consumption without noticeable changes in platelet count. We conclude that the observed platelet hyperactivation in COVID-19 could be caused by platelet activation in circulation, leading to platelet consumption without significant thrombocytopenia.

Longitudinal multiparametric characterization of platelet dysfunction in COVID-19: Effects of disease severity, anticoagulation therapy and inflammatory status

“…Enhanced consumption also increases TPO synthesis by the liver and leads to platelet overproduction and platelets becoming larger and younger in COVID-19 patients [21][22][23]. Our previous in silico studies have additionally demonstrated the important role of these processes in COVID-19 [24]. Above all, mild to intermediate thrombocytopenia was proved to be a negative prognostic marker for COVID-19 patients [20][21][22].…”

Immune thrombocytopenia: what can the systems biology and systems physiology offer?

“…Finally, models of different phenomena can also be applicable for the studies of ITP. Stepanyan et al [89] have developed a stochastic computational model of platelets' life cycle which takes into the account the consumption of platelets due to COVID-19 thrombosis. Briefly, the platelets are produced in the megakaryocytes from the bone marrow with a TPO level dependent manner.…”

Systems Biology and Physiology Reports in 2021: a yearly report

“…After a year of development, SBPReports boasts a highly professional and dedicated editorial board formed by experts in the systems biology field from Belarus, Canada, China, India, Russia, UK and USA. The three major sections of the edition are related to the three major levels of understanding of the biological systems: molecular [1,2], cellular [3,4], and organism [5,6] levels. The papers published in the four issues during this year include original articles [1,2,4,6], reviews [5,[7][8][9], and methodological studies [10,11].…”

“…The three major sections of the edition are related to the three major levels of understanding of the biological systems: molecular [1,2], cellular [3,4], and organism [5,6] levels. The papers published in the four issues during this year include original articles [1,2,4,6], reviews [5,[7][8][9], and methodological studies [10,11]. In addition, two large abstract collections Systems Biology and Systems Physiology Congress 2021 and International Congress devoted to the Memory of the Founders of Biophysics Department of Physics Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State Universityprofessor L.A. Blumenfeld and professor S.E.…”