Ecological geneticsEcological geneticsЭкологическая генетика1811-09322411-9202Eco-Vector3397310.17816/ecogen33973Opinions, discussionsМнения, гипотезы, дискуссионные вопросыResearch ArticleVon Willebrand factor and endothelial damage: a possible association with COVID-19Фактор Фон Виллебранда и повреждение эндотелия: возможная связь с COVID-19https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1601-16157004702797O-8309-20154914-7675AksenovaAnna Yu.АксёноваАнна Юрьевна
Russian Federation

Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher

канд. биол. наук, старший научный сотрудник, лаборатория биологии амилоидов

aksena@gmail.comSaint Petersburg State UniversityФедеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет»14052020080720201821351380105202012052020Copyright ©; 2020, Aksenova A.Y.Copyright ©; 2020, Аксёнова А.Ю.2020Aksenova A.Y.Аксёнова А.Ю.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0https://journals.eco-vector.com/ecolgenet/article/view/33973

COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a new type of infection which has caused an enormous social and economic burden across the world. While most people will develop a mild-to-moderate form of the disease or even stay asymptomatic, a certain proportion will get critically ill. COVID-19 mortality risk is higher in elderly patients and in patients with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Molecular mechanisms which underlie these risks are not yet understood for COVID-19. Here I discuss a possible association of COVID-19 complications with von Willebrand factor (VWF) level and endothelial damage. VFW is an important prognostic marker of endothelial dysfunction and its level fluctuates depending on age. VWF level is also variable depending on sex and race. Importantly, chloroquine, a drug that showed potential efficacy for COVID-19 treatment, can influence VWF secretion and consequently its level and activity. I propose that VWF level and activity might be predictors of the COVID-19 morbidity and mortality; moreover the VWF might be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. I suggest that a comprehensive study of VWF level in SARS-CoV-2 positive groups of people with mild and severe course of the disease should be undertaken.

Пандемия COVID-19, вызванная новым вирусом SARS-CoV-2, привела к развитию тяжелых социоэкономических последствий по всему миру. Хотя у большинства людей наблюдается легкое или среднетяжелое течение болезни, а некоторые даже переносят заражение без развития симптомов, у определенной доли людей развивается критически тяжелое состояние. Текущая статистика показывает, что смертность от COVID-19 выше среди пожилых пациентов и у пациентов с определенными заболеваниями, такими как сердечно-сосудистые заболевания и диабет. Молекулярные механизмы, которые лежат в основе этих рисков, пока еще не понятны для COVID-19. В данном сообщении я обсуждаю возможную ассоциацию осложнений COVID-19 с фактором фон Виллебранда (ФВ) и повреждением эндотелия сосудов. ФВ является важным прогностическим фактором дисфункции эндотелия сосудов и его уровень в плазме меняется с возрастом. Уровень ФВ также подвержен вариации в зависимости от пола и расовой принадлежности. Важно, что хлорохин — препарат, который в предварительных испытаниях показал эффективность при лечении COVID-19, влияет на секрецию ФВ и может влиять на его количество и активность в плазме. Я предполагаю, что уровень и активность ФВ могут являться важными прогностическими факторами заболеваемости и смертности от COVID-19, а сам ФВ может оказаться вовлеченным в патогенез заболевания. Масштабное и тщательное исследование уровня и активности ФВ у групп людей, инфицированных SARS-CoV-2, у которых наблюдается легкое или тяжелое течение инфекции, должно быть предпринято в ближайшее время.

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