NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — In a recent study funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), scientists found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can directly attack blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The study , led by Dr. Chiara Giannarelli of New York University School of Medicine, analyzed coronary artery tissue samples from eight people who died of COVID-19 between May 2020 and May 2021.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research, shed light on the possible long-term impact of the virus on cardiovascular health.
Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in coronary artery tissue
The research team detected SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in the coronary artery tissue of all patients examined. Notably, the level of viral RNA in the artery walls was higher than in the surrounding fatty tissue.
The infected cells were mainly macrophages, a type of white blood cell responsible for engulfing pathogens. Samples with more macrophages also had more viral RNA present.
Atherosclerosis and its connection to COVID-19
Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by narrowing of the arteries due to the formation of plaque consisting of fat, cholesterol and other substances.
This narrowing restricts blood flow and can lead to blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking further increase this risk.
The research team confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 can infect human macrophages and foam cells, which are macrophages that contain cholesterol and are involved in plaque formation.
Infection of foam cells appeared to be more common than infection of macrophages. This may explain why individuals with atherosclerosis are more susceptible to severe COVID-19.
The role of neuropilin and the inflammatory response
In both macrophages and foam cells, infection was dependent on the neuropilin protein present on the surface of these cells.
When the neuropilin gene was turned off or the virus was blocked from binding to neuropilin, the level of infection decreased. In addition, the infection triggered inflammatory processes in these cells, which led to the release of molecules associated with heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers observed a similar inflammatory response in arterial plaques removed from patients.
Implications and future research
The findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes by directly infecting arterial tissue and causing inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques. Dr. Giannarelli notes, “These findings shed light on a possible link between pre-existing heart problems and long COVID symptoms.”
The study highlights the need for further research to better understand the long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health.
Dr. Michelle Olive of the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute adds: “We’ve known since the early days of the pandemic that people who become infected with COVID-19 have an increased risk of heart disease or stroke within a year of infection. We believe we have uncovered one of the reasons for this.”
—
Online:
News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.
To eliminate any confusion arising from different time zones and daylight saving changes, all times displayed on our platforms are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).