Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Author Spotlight: Development of a Large-Scale, Reproducible Production Method for Exosome Mimetics Using Magnetic Nanoparticles
Published on: January 26, 2024
Annexin-V positive extracellular vesicles level is increased in severe COVID-19 disease
Valentine Jacob1,2, Alexis Lambour3, Benjamin Swinyard3
1Department of Human Biology Center, Amiens University Medical Center, Amiens, France.
Insights
Extracellular vesicles are significantly increased in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Their levels and sizes may serve as biomarkers for identifying COVID-19-associated thromboembolic events in intensive care unit patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is associated with a high risk of thromboembolic events, particularly in critically ill patients.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play roles in thrombosis and inflammation, but their specific involvement in COVID-19-associated coagulopathy is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels of endothelial and platelet-derived EVs in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To determine if EV levels differ between patients with and without COVID-19-associated thromboembolic events (TEs).
Main Methods:
- Prospective assessment of Annexin-V positive EVs using flow cytometry.
- Study included 123 critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients with ARDS, 10 with moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 25 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- EV levels were significantly elevated in SARS-CoV-2 ICU patients compared to healthy volunteers.
- Thirty-four percent of critically ill patients experienced thromboembolic events; 43% of these patients died.
- A higher small/large ratio of platelet-derived EVs was associated with thromboembolic events.
Conclusions:
- Annexin-V positive EV levels are significantly increased in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- EV levels and sizes show potential as biomarkers for predicting SARS-CoV-2-associated thromboembolic events.
Objectives:
To evaluate extracellular vesicles levels in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2's patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit with and without COVID-19 associated thromboembolic events.
Methods:
In this study, we aim to assess endothelial and platelet membrane-derived extracellular vesicles levels in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 patients with and without COVID-19-associated thromboembolic events who were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Annexin-V positive extracellular vesicles levels were prospectively assessed by flow cytometry in one hundred twenty-three critically ill adults diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with a SARS-CoV-2 infection, ten adults diagnosed for moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection and 25 healthy volunteers.
Results:
On our critically ill patients, thirty-four patients (27.6%) had a thromboembolic event, Fifty-three (43%) died. Endothelial and platelet membrane-derived extracellular vesicles were drastically increased in SARS-CoV-2 patients hospitalized in the ICU compared to healthy volunteers. Moreover a slighty higher small/large ratio for platelets membrane-derived extracellular vesicles in patients was linked to thrombo-embolic events.
Conclusion:
A comparison between total annexin-V positive extracellular vesicles levels in severe and moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection and healthy controls showed a significant increase in patients with severe infection and their sizes could be considered as biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 associated thrombo-embolic events.
