Plasma Proteomics of COVID-19-Associated Cardiovascular Complications Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

To gain insights into the mechanisms driving cardiovascular complications in COVID-19, we performed a case-control plasma proteomics study in COVID-19 patients. Our results identify the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, a marker of biological aging, as the dominant process associated with disease severity and cardiac involvement. FSTL3, an indicator of senescence-promoting Activin/TGFI3 signaling, and ADAMTS13, the von Willebrand Factor-cleaving protease whose toss-of-function causes microvascular thrombosis, were among the proteins most strongly associated with myocardial stress and injury. Findings were validated in a larger COVID-19 patient cohort and the hamster COVID-19 model, providing new insights into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 cardiovascular complications with therapeutic implications. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Automated summary

A case-control plasma proteomics study in COVID-19 patients reveals that the senescence-associated secretory phenotype is the dominant process associated with disease severity and cardiac involvement. FSTL3 and ADAMTS13 are among the proteins most strongly associated with myocardial stress and injury. These findings are validated in a larger COVID-19 patient cohort and animal models, providing new insights into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 cardiovascular complications.