Novel mechanisms and anti-platelet therapies of COVID-19-associated thrombosis

COVID-19 patients have a higher incidence of thrombotic events. Increased hypercoagulability was found in severe COVID-19 patients, but the mechanism of how SARS-CoV-2 virus affect our blood coagulation system is not fully understood. Platelet activation and blood coagulation are complementary, mutually dependent processes in haemostasis and thrombosis. Platelet contains large amount of integrin ?IIb?3 on the surface which is required for platelet aggregation/thrombus formation. The Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains a highly conserved RGD (Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid) motif, which is the classical recognition site for integrins. This project aims to investigate 1) whether ?IIb?3 integrin is a novel co-receptor of SARS-CoV-2; 2) whether SARS-CoV-2 viruses activate platelet via spike protein-?IIb?3 interaction; 3) the therapeutic potential of anti-?3 integrin monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and related thrombosis.

Faculty Supervisor:

Haibo Zhang

Student:

Chuanbin Shen

Partner:

CCOA Therapeutics Inc.

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto