SARS-CoV-2 spike protein expression drives post-acute coagulopathy.

ABSTRACT: During the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged, each with distinct pathogenicity and transmissibility. This study investigated the role of the viral spike (S) protein in disease progression, focusing on the highly virulent S variant. The Delta S protein exhibited enhanced cleavage efficiency at the S1/S2 junction, resulting in partial dissociation of the S1 subunit, with detectable levels of extracellular S1. Unexpectedly, transient expression of Ancestral and Delta S protein induced by a recombinant vesicular stomatitis viral vector caused mild pulmonary inflammation, neutrophil activation, microthrombosis, and ~40% mortality in transgenic K18-hACE2 mice between 8 and 16 days, similar to post-COVID sequelae. The diseased mice displayed splenic atrophy and systemic infl

SUBMITTER: Tien C-F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911876 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature