Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41677601›Full record

ReviewCells2026

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction.

Kelsey C Muir, Dwight D Harris, Meghamsh Kanuparthy, Jiayu Hu, Ju-Woo Nho, Christopher Stone, Debolina Banerjee, Frank W Sellke, Jun Feng

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cells, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kelsey C MuirDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Dwight D HarrisCardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
Meghamsh KanuparthyDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.ORCID 0009-0005-7581-0555
Jiayu HuCardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
Ju-Woo NhoCardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA.ORCID 0009-0006-1260-070X
Christopher StoneDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Debolina BanerjeeDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Frank W SellkeDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Jun FengDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4762-7532

Funding

Uncoupling of IL-1 beta and VEGF-A Crosstalk Contributes to Impaired Arteriogenesis Response to Ischemia in Chronic Diabetes MellitusP20GM103652 · NIGMS · OCEAN STATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. · PI CHOUDHARY, GAURAV, HARRINGTON, ELIZABETH O · 2013 to 2022
$21.3M
Vascular Dysfunction in Myocardial Ischemia and Metabolic SyndromeR01HL128831 · NHLBI · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · PI SELLKE, FRANK W, USHEVA-SIMIDJIYSKA, ANNY · 2016 to 2025
$5.7M
Microvascular/Endothelial Dysfunction and Postoperative Atrial FibrillationR01HL179089 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · PI Jun Feng · 2025 to 2026
$1.5M
NIH HHS 1R01HL176640-01NIH HHS 1R56HL169501-01NIH HHS P20GM103652NIH HHS R01HL128831NIH HHS R01HL179089NIH HHS R01HL46716NIH HHS T32HL16051703
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is initiated by the viral spike proteins, which are key structural components that mediate host cell binding and entry and alter downstream signaling through multiple interactions with endothelial surface receptors. Endothelial dysfunction is a central consequence of COVID-19, contributing to vascular inflammation, barrier disruption, thrombosis, and multi-organ injury affecting the pulmonary, cardiovascular, cerebral, and renal systems. Emerging evidence demonstrates that spike protein-mediated effects, independent of productive viral infection, disrupt endothelial homeostasis through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) dysregulation, integrin engagement, altered calcium signaling, junctional protein remodeling, oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic pathways. This review is intentionally focused on spike (S) protein-driven mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction; pathogenic vascular effects attributed to other SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins, including the nucleocapsid (N) protein, are beyond the scope of this discussion. In this review, we synthesize current experimental and translational data detailing the molecular mechanisms by which the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein drives endothelial dysfunction across multiple organ systems and discuss potential therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving endothelial integrity in acute COVID-19 and its long-term vascular sequela.

Indexed as

COVID-19Endothelium, VascularSpike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsEndothelial CellsHumansSARS-CoV-2Signal TransductionACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2COVID-19endothelial dysfunctionendothelial permeabilitySARS-CoV-2spike protein

Identifiers

PMID41677601
PMCPMC12896700

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.