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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Isolation and Characterization of Microvesicles from Peripheral Blood
Published on: January 6, 2017
Evaluation of circulating microvesicles and their procoagulant activity in patients with COVID-19
Akbar Hashemi Tayer1, Hossein Kargar Jahromi2, Maryam Kamravan2
1Research Center for Noncommunicable Diseases, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran. hashemiakbar@yahoo.com.
Objective:
Several pathological conditions trigger the formation of microvesicles (MVs), including infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The shedding of MVs increases the levels of inflammatory factors (e.g., interleukin-6; IL-6) and ultimately leads to an inflammatory cascade response, while also increasing the procoagulant response. The current study aimed to evaluate the level of circulating MVs and their procoagulant activity as well as the serum level of IL-6 in patients with COVID-19 and healthy controls. In this case-control study, 65 patients with COVID-19 and 30 healthy individuals were sampled after obtaining written informed consent. MVs counting was measured using conjugated CD61, CD45, CD235a, and Annexin-V antibodies. Additionally, the procoagulant activity of MVs and the IL-6 level were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
The majority of MVs were platelet-derived MVs (PMVs). Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher levels of MVs, procoagulant MVs, and IL-6 compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). MVs were significantly correlated with procoagulant MVs, D-Dimer levels, fibrinogen, and IL-6, but not with platelet, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts.
Conclusion:
Elevated levels of procoagulant MVs and their association with inflammatory and coagulation markers in patients with COVID-19 are suggested as a novel circulatory biomarker to evaluate and predict the procoagulant activity and severity of COVID-19.
Insights
Patients with COVID-19 exhibit elevated levels of circulating microvesicles (MVs) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These procoagulant MVs may serve as a biomarker for COVID-19 severity.
Area of Science:
- * Biomedical research
- * Hematology
- * Immunology
Background:
- * Microvesicles (MVs) are released during pathological conditions, including COVID-19.
- * Increased MVs correlate with elevated inflammatory markers like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and heightened procoagulant activity.
- * Understanding MV dynamics in COVID-19 is crucial for assessing disease severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To quantify circulating MVs and their procoagulant activity in COVID-19 patients.
- * To measure serum IL-6 levels in COVID-19 patients and compare them to healthy controls.
- * To investigate the relationship between MVs, IL-6, and coagulation parameters in COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- * Case-control study involving 65 COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy controls.
- * MV quantification using antibodies against CD61, CD45, CD235a, and Annexin-V.
- * Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring MVs procoagulant activity and IL-6 levels.
Main Results:
- * COVID-19 patients showed significantly higher levels of MVs, procoagulant MVs, and IL-6 compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- * Platelet-derived MVs constituted the majority of circulating MVs.
- * MVs correlated positively with procoagulant MVs, D-Dimer, fibrinogen, and IL-6 levels.
Conclusions:
- * Elevated procoagulant MVs are associated with inflammation and coagulation markers in COVID-19.
- * Procoagulant MVs represent a potential novel biomarker for evaluating COVID-19 procoagulant activity and severity.
- * Further research can explore the predictive value of these MVs in clinical settings.
