COVID-19 Vaccines and Thrombosis-Roadblock or Dead-End Street?

Abstract

Two adenovirus-based vaccines, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Ad26.COV2.S, and two mRNA-based vaccines, BNT162b2 and mRNA.1273, have been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and are invaluable in preventing and reducing the incidence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Recent reports have pointed to thrombosis with associated thrombocytopenia as an adverse effect occurring at a low frequency in some individuals after vaccination. The causes of such events may be related to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions with different C-type lectin receptors, heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and the CD147 receptor, or to different soluble splice variants of the spike protein, adenovirus vector interactions with the CD46 receptor or platelet factor 4 antibodies. Similar findings have been reported for several viral diseases after vaccine administration. In addition, immunological mechanisms elicited by viral vectors related to cellular delivery could play a relevant role in individuals with certain genetic backgrounds. Although rare, the potential COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) requires immediate validation, especially in risk groups, such as the elderly, chronic smokers, and individuals with pre-existing incidences of thrombocytopenia; and if necessary, a reformulation of existing vaccines.

• Authors: Kenneth Lundstrom, Debmalya Barh, Bruce D Uhal, Kazuo Takayama, Alaa A A Aljabali, Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz, Amos Lal, Elrashdy M Redwan, Parise Adadi, Gaurav Chauhan, Samendra P Sherchan, Gajendra Kumar Azad, Nima Rezaei, Ángel Serrano-Aroca, Nicolas G Bazan, Sk Sarif Hassan, Pritam Kumar Panda, Pabitra Pal Choudhury, Damiano Pizzol, Ramesh Kandimalla, Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz, Yogendra Kumar Mishra, Giorgio Palu, Adam M Brufsky, Murtaza M Tambuwala, Vladimir N Uversky
• Journal: Biomolecules (Biomolecules) Vol. 11 Issue 7 (07 13 2021) ISSN: 2218-273X [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34356644 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Ad26COVS1
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
• spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
• ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
• 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273
• BNT162 Vaccine

Topics

• 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273
• Ad26COVS1
• BNT162 Vaccine
• COVID-19 (immunology, prevention & control)
• COVID-19 Vaccines (adverse effects)
• ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
• Humans
• Risk Factors
• SARS-CoV-2 (immunology)
• Smokers
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus (immunology)
• Thrombocytopenia (etiology, immunology)
• Thrombosis (etiology, immunology)
• Vaccination (adverse effects)