Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Monitoring Changes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells upon Viral Infection Using Impedance-Based Real-Time Cell Analysis
07:56

Monitoring Changes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells upon Viral Infection Using Impedance-Based Real-Time Cell Analysis

Published on: May 5, 2023

456

Endothelial cell activation, Weibel-Palade body secretion, and enhanced angiogenesis in severe COVID-19

Ellie Karampini1, Helen Fogarty1, Stephanie Elliott1

  • 1Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
|February 23, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Severe COVID-19 activates endothelial cells (ECs), increasing Weibel-Palade body proteins like von Willebrand factor (VWF) and angiopoietin-2 (Angpt-2). This EC activation promotes angiogenesis and correlates with disease severity.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Severe COVID-19 is linked to endothelial cell (EC) activation, contributing to immunothrombosis and microvascular occlusion.
  • The precise mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 induces EC activation and damage are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate EC activation in COVID-19 patients.
  • To determine the role of Weibel-Palade body proteins in COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 39 patients with confirmed COVID-19.
  • Measured Weibel-Palade body biomarkers (von Willebrand factor [VWF], angiopoietin-2 [Angpt-2], osteoprotegerin) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM).
  • Assessed EC activation and angiogenesis with and without COVID-19 plasma incubation.

Main Results:

  • Patients with acute COVID-19 showed elevated plasma VWF, Angpt-2, osteoprotegerin, and sTM.
  • Increased sTM and Weibel-Palade biomarkers correlated with COVID-19 severity.
  • COVID-19 plasma incubation enhanced EC VWF secretion, Angpt-2 expression, and angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection causes multifactorial EC activation and thrombomodulin loss.
  • Increased Angpt-2 expression promotes a proangiogenic state in COVID-19.
  • These findings elucidate mechanisms of EC dysfunction in severe COVID-19.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Weibel-Palade bodyangiogenesisendothelial activationendothelial cells

More Related Videos

Screening Assays to Characterize Novel Endothelial Regulators Involved in the Inflammatory Response12:50

Screening Assays to Characterize Novel Endothelial Regulators Involved in the Inflammatory Response

Published on: September 15, 2017

6.6K
Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls10:16

Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls

Published on: January 4, 2018

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
2.7K
Mechanism of Angiogenesis01:10

Mechanism of Angiogenesis

Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
5.7K
Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview
54.3K
Inflammatory Response I: Vascular and Cellular01:30

Inflammatory Response I: Vascular and Cellular

The inflammatory response is the body's defense against infection, injury, or irritation from bacteria, trauma, toxins, or heat. Inflammation helps locate and destroy pathogens and remove damaged tissue elements to heal the body. During this initial phase, fluid, blood products, and nutrients migrate to the injured area, resulting in redness, heat, swelling, ache, and loss of function. Moreover, signs of systemic inflammation include fever, increased WBC count, malaise, anorexia, nausea,...
11.9K
Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions01:24

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
7.3K
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
20