Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets
Published on: November 29, 2024
A platelet lipidomics signature in patients with COVID-19
Laura Goracci1, Eleonora Petito2, Alessandra Di Veroli1
1Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Insights
Severe COVID-19 patients show distinct platelet lipidomics, with decreased ether phospholipids and increased ganglioside GM3. This altered platelet lipid metabolism may contribute to thrombotic complications in COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Hematology
- Virology
Background:
- Severe COVID-19 is linked to ischemic cardiovascular and thromboembolic events.
- Platelet activation is implicated in these severe COVID-19 complications.
- Platelet lipidomics in COVID-19 patients remain uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a preliminary investigation of platelet lipidomics in COVID-19 patients.
- To compare the lipidomic profiles of platelets from COVID-19 patients versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Collected ultrapurified platelets from eight hospitalized COVID-19 patients and eight healthy controls.
- Performed lipid extraction and identification.
- Analyzed and compared lipidomic patterns between groups.
Main Results:
- Platelet lipidomics clearly separated COVID-19 patients from healthy controls.
- Observed a significant decrease in ether phospholipids in COVID-19 patients' platelets.
- Detected increased levels of ganglioside GM3 in platelets from COVID-19 patients.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 patients' platelets exhibit a unique lipidomic signature.
- Altered platelet lipid metabolism may be involved in COVID-19 viral spreading.
- This metabolic shift may contribute to thrombotic complications in severe COVID-19.
Abstract:
Ischemic cardiovascular and venous thromboembolic events are a frequent cause of death in severe COVID-19 patients. Platelet activation plays a key role in these complications, however platelet lipidomics have not been studied yet. The aim of our pilot investigation was to perform a preliminary study of platelet lipidomics in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Lipid extraction and identification of ultrapurified platelets from eight hospitalized COVID-19 patients and eight age- and sex-matched healthy controls showed a lipidomic pattern almost completely separating COVID-19 patients from healthy controls. In particular, a significant decrease of ether phospholipids and increased levels of ganglioside GM3 were observed in platelets from COVID-19 patients. In conclusion, our study shows for the first time that platelets from COVID-19 patients display a different lipidomics signature distinguishing them from healthy controls, and suggests that altered platelet lipid metabolism may play a role in viral spreading and in the thrombotic complications of COVID-19.
