Pandemia COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) este cea mai mare provocare a sanatatii publice, rezultand in milioane de decese la nivel global. Mecanismele fiziopatologice din spatele acestei conditii sunt inca neclare, unii pacienti fiind afectati mai sever decat altii. O complicatie majora ce apare in urma infectiei cu SARS-CoV-2 este tromboza (in special tromboza venoasa), desi legatura dintre cele doua conditii nu a fost elucidata. Intr-un efort major de a opri aceasta pandemie, mai multe vaccinuri au fost dezvoltate, utilizand atat tehnica adenovirusului, precum si o noua tehnologie pe baza de ARN mesager. Desi rare si fara a inclina balanta beneficiilor in defavoarea vaccinurilor, acestea au fost corelate cu tromboza ca efect secundar sever. Astfel, este esential sa intelegem mecanismele ce cauzeaza tromboza in pacientii ce sufera de COVID-19/persoanele vaccinate impotriva acestei boli.

Rolul trombocitelor in tromboza venoasa a fost evidentiat recent, avand in vedere abilitatea acestora de a interactiona cu neutrofilele. Noi loci genetici care predispun la tromboza au fost identificati, inclusiv SLC44A2, o gena care codifica un receptor al neutrofilelor, cu ajutorul caruia acestea interactioneaza cu trombocitele.

Scopul proiectului propus este de a investiga fenotipul trombocitelor si al neutrofilelor la pacienti COVID-19 si la persoane imunizate impotriva acestei boli, pentru a incerca sa intelegem mai bine legatura acesteia cu tromboza.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic is the most challenging global public health issue, having resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. The (patho)physiological mechanisms underlying this condition are still unclear, with some patients being affected more severely than others. One major complication arising from infection with SARS-CoV-2 is thrombosis (particularly venous thrombosis), although the link between the two is yet to be understood. In a major effort to contain this pandemic, multiple vaccines have been developed, using either adenovirus technique, or a novel technology based on messenger RNA. Although rarely and not outweighing their benefits, vaccines have been linked to thrombotic side effects. It is, therefore, imperative to understand the mechanisms linked to thrombosis in COVID-19 patients/vaccinated individuals. The role of platelets in venous thrombosis has been increasingly recognised recently, given their ability to interact with neutrophils. New susceptibility loci for thrombosis have been identified, including SLC44A2, a gene encoding for a neutrophil receptor binding to platelets.

The aim of the proposed research is to investigate the platelet and neutrophil phenotypes in COVID-19 patients and individuals vaccinated against this condition, in an attempt to better understand the link to thrombosis.