Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://journals.physiology.org/doi...m_medium=PressRelease&utm_campaign=4.16.2020&
Elevated Plasmin(ogen) as a Common Risk Factor for COVID-19 Susceptibility
Hong-Long Ji, Runzhen Zhao, Sadis Matalon, and Michael A. Matthay
03 Apr 2020https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00013.2020
Abstract
Patients with hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney dysfunction have worse clinical outcomes when infected with SARS-CoV-2, for unknown reasons. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence for the existence of elevated plasmin(ogen) in COVID-19 patients with these comorbid conditions. Plasmin, and other proteases, may cleave a newly inserted furin site in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2, extracellularly, which increases its infectivity and virulence. Hyperfibrinolysis associated with plasmin leads to elevated D-dimer in severe patients. The plasmin(ogen) system may prove a promising therapeutic target for combating COVID-19...
Elevated Plasmin(ogen) as a Common Risk Factor for COVID-19 Susceptibility
Hong-Long Ji, Runzhen Zhao, Sadis Matalon, and Michael A. Matthay
03 Apr 2020https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00013.2020
Abstract
Patients with hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney dysfunction have worse clinical outcomes when infected with SARS-CoV-2, for unknown reasons. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence for the existence of elevated plasmin(ogen) in COVID-19 patients with these comorbid conditions. Plasmin, and other proteases, may cleave a newly inserted furin site in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2, extracellularly, which increases its infectivity and virulence. Hyperfibrinolysis associated with plasmin leads to elevated D-dimer in severe patients. The plasmin(ogen) system may prove a promising therapeutic target for combating COVID-19...