Mast Cell Carboxypeptidase A3 Is Associated with Pulmonary Fibrosis Secondary to COVID-19.

Claudia Meixueiro-Calderón, Armando Gamboa-Domínguez, Juan Carlos León-Contreras, Rogelio Hernández-Pando, Sonia M Pérez-Tapia, Alma D Chávez-Blanco, Yatsiri G Meneses-Preza, Ricardo Martínez-Martínez, Ulises Manuel Hernández, Elizabeth Angelica Retana, María Dolores Ponce-Regalado, Samira Muñoz-Cruz, Enrique Becerril-Villanueva, Rommel Chacón-Salinas

Journal: International journal of molecular sciences 2024;25(22):

PMID: 39596322

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Abstract

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2; over the course of the disease, a dysregulated immune response leads to excessive inflammation that damages lung parenchyma and compromises its function. One of the cell lineages classically associated with pathological inflammatory processes is mast cells (MCs). MCs and their mediators have been associated with COVID-19; we previously reported the role of carboxypeptidase A3 (CPA3) in severe COVID-19. However, sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been poorly studied. In patients who successfully resolve the infection, one of the reported sequelae is pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The etiology and exact mechanisms are unknown, and few studies exist. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether MCs are associated with PF development after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings demonstrate that during severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is an increased amount of CPA3 MCs in areas with pneumonia, around thrombotic blood vessels, and in fibrotic tissue. Moreover, higher numbers of CPA3-expressing MCs correlate with fibrotic tissue development (r = 0.8323; = 0.001170). These results suggest that during COVID-19, exacerbated inflammation favors the recruitment or expansion of MCs and CPA3 expression in the lungs, which favors tissue damage and a failure of repair mechanisms, leading to fibrosis.

Address: Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ENCB-IPN, Mexico City 11350, Mexico.; Departamento de Patología, Centro Médico Naval, Mexico City 04470, Mexico.; Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Mexico.; Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico.; Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunoquímica, UMAE Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico.; Sección de Patología Experimental, Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico.; Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ENCB-IPN, Mexico City 11350, Mexico.; Unidad de Desarrollo e Investigación en Bioterapéuticos (UDIBI), Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ENCB-IPN, Mexico City 11340, Mexico.; División de Ciencia Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan, SS), Mexico City 14080, Mexico.; Laboratorio de Psicoinmunología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City 14370, Mexico.

DOI: 10.3390/ijms252212258

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https://medlineplus.gov/covid19coronavirusdisease2...

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https://assays.cancer.gov/CPTAC-438

MeSH Terms: COVID-19, Humans, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Mast Cells, Carboxypeptidases A, Male, SARS-CoV-2, Female, Middle Aged, Lung, Aged, Adult