[HTML][HTML] Increased plasma heparanase activity in COVID-19 patients

B Buijsers, C Yanginlar, A de Nooijer… - Frontiers in …, 2020 - frontiersin.org
B Buijsers, C Yanginlar, A de Nooijer, I Grondman, ML Maciej-Hulme, I Jonkman…
Frontiers in immunology, 2020frontiersin.org
Reports suggest a role of endothelial dysfunction and loss of endothelial barrier function in
COVID-19. It is well established that the endothelial glycocalyx-degrading enzyme
heparanase contributes to vascular leakage and inflammation. Low molecular weight
heparins (LMWH) serve as an inhibitor of heparanase. We hypothesize that heparanase
contributes to the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and that heparanase may be inhibited by
LMWH. To test this hypothesis, heparanase activity and heparan sulfate levels were …
Reports suggest a role of endothelial dysfunction and loss of endothelial barrier function in COVID-19. It is well established that the endothelial glycocalyx-degrading enzyme heparanase contributes to vascular leakage and inflammation. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) serve as an inhibitor of heparanase. We hypothesize that heparanase contributes to the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and that heparanase may be inhibited by LMWH. To test this hypothesis, heparanase activity and heparan sulfate levels were measured in plasma of healthy controls (n = 10) and COVID-19 patients (n = 48). Plasma heparanase activity and heparan sulfate levels were significantly elevated in COVID-19 patients. Heparanase activity was associated with disease severity including the need for intensive care, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and creatinine levels. Use of prophylactic LMWH in non-ICU patients was associated with a reduced heparanase activity. Since there is no other clinically applied heparanase inhibitor currently available, therapeutic treatment of COVID-19 patients with low molecular weight heparins should be explored.
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