Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy.
Clinical Laboratory, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 27;24(11):9373. doi: 10.3390/ijms24119373.
This study investigated the biological effects on circulating monocytes after challenge with SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein. Whole blood collected from seven ostensibly healthy healthcare workers was incubated for 15 min with 2 and 20 ng/mL final concentration of recombinant spike protein of Ancestral, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. Samples were analyzed with Sysmex XN and DI-60 analyzers. Cellular complexity (i.e., the presence of granules, vacuoles and other cytoplasmic inclusions) increased in all samples challenged with the recombinant spike protein of the Ancestral, Alpha, and Delta variants, but not in those containing Omicron. The cellular content of nucleic acids was constantly decreased in most samples, achieving statistical significance in those containing 20 ng/mL of Alpha and Delta recombinant spike proteins. The heterogeneity of monocyte volumes significantly increased in all samples, achieving statistical significance in those containing 20 ng/mL of recombinant spike protein of the Ancestral, Alpha and Delta variants. The monocyte morphological abnormalities after spike protein challenge included dysmorphia, granulation, intense vacuolization, platelet phagocytosis, development of aberrant nuclei, and cytoplasmic extrusions. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein triggers important monocyte morphological abnormalities, more evident in cells challenged with recombinant spike protein of the more clinically severe Alpha and Delta variants.
本研究探讨了 SARS-CoV-2 重组刺突蛋白对循环单核细胞的生物学影响。将来自 7 名表面健康的医护人员的全血与终浓度为 2 和 20ng/mL 的重组刺突蛋白（祖先、阿尔法、德尔塔和奥密克戎变异株）孵育 15 分钟。使用 Sysmex XN 和 DI-60 分析仪分析样品。在含有祖先、阿尔法和德尔塔变异株重组刺突蛋白的所有样品中，细胞复杂性（即颗粒、空泡和其他细胞质内含物的存在）增加，但在含有奥密克戎的样品中则没有。大多数样品中的核酸细胞含量持续减少，在含有 20ng/mL 阿尔法和德尔塔重组刺突蛋白的样品中达到统计学意义。所有样品中单核细胞体积的异质性显著增加，在含有祖先、阿尔法和德尔塔变异株重组刺突蛋白的样品中达到统计学意义。刺突蛋白挑战后单核细胞的形态异常包括畸形、颗粒化、强烈空泡化、血小板吞噬作用、异常核的形成和细胞质外突。SARS-CoV-2 刺突蛋白引发重要的单核细胞形态异常，在受到更具临床严重性的阿尔法和德尔塔变异株重组刺突蛋白挑战的细胞中更为明显。
