Synergistic Role of NK Cells and Monocytes in Promoting Atherogenesis in Severe COVID-19 Patients
Year: 2023
Type: preprint
Abstract: Clinical data demonstrate an increased predisposition to cardiovascular disease (CVD) following severe COVID-19 infection. This may be driven by a dysregulated immune response associated with severe disease. Monocytes and vascular tissue resident macrophages play a critical role in atherosclerosis, the main pathology leading to ischemic CVD. Natural killer (NK) cells are a heterogenous group of cells that are critical during viral pathogenesis and are known to be dysregulated during severe COVID-19 infection. Their role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has recently been described. However, the contribution of their altered phenotypes to atherogenesis following severe COVID-19 infection is unknown. We demonstrate for the first time that during and after severe COVID-19, circulating proinflammatory monocytes and activated NK cells act synergistically to increase uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) into vascular tissue with subsequent foam cell generation leading to atherogenesis despite recovery from acute infection. Our data provide new insights, revealing the roles of monocytes/macrophages, and NK cells in COVID-19-related atherogenesis.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Manuja Gunasena, Mario Alles, Yasasvi Wijewantha, Will Mulhern, Emily Bowman, Janelle Gabriel, Aaren Kettelhut, Amrendra Kumar, Krishanthi Weragalaarachchi, Dhanuja Kasturiratna, Jeffrey C Horowitz, Scott Scrape, Sonal R Pannu, Shan-Lu Liu, Anna Vilgelm, Saranga Wijeratne, Joseph S Bednash, Thorsten Demberg, Nicholas T Funderburg, Namal P.M. Liyanage
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4388637481