Quantifying endothelial damage by digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of endothelial cell-free DNA in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, triggers severe systemic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction. Microvascular complications, potentially arising from endothelial cell infection and/or immunothrombosis, play a central role in the disease's pathophysiology. Upon cell activation and/or cell death, cells release cell-free DNA (cfDNA) into the circulation, and cfDNA derived specifically from endothelial cells may serve as a marker of microvascular damage severity.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we aimed to develop an assay to specifically measure endothelial cell-derived DNA as a marker of microvascular damage in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

In this study, we developed a methylation-specific digital droplet polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the promoter of the NOS3 gene to quantify circulating endothelial cell-derived cfDNA in COVID-19 patients followed longitudinally at inclusion, day 11, and day 28.

RESULTS

Total cfDNA and endothelial-specific cfDNA levels significantly increased with COVID-19 disease severity, with the highest levels in patients with severe COVID-19. Notably, patients with mild COVID-19 showed endothelial cfDNA levels comparable to those of healthy controls, and levels remained stable from inclusion through day 28. In contrast, patients with moderate disease severity showed significantly elevated endothelial cfDNA levels compared with controls, which declined over time. Patients with severe COVID-19 displayed persistently high endothelial cfDNA levels throughout the observation period.

CONCLUSION

Using a digital droplet polymerase chain reaction assay specific for cfDNA from endothelial cells, we demonstrated endothelial cell damage in patients with COVID-19 that correlated with disease severity.