2. Academic Validation
  3. CXCL10-dependent epithelial-vascular cross-talk for endothelial activation following SARS-CoV-2 infection

CXCL10-dependent epithelial-vascular cross-talk for endothelial activation following SARS-CoV-2 infection

  • Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):21129. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-08329-z.
Chaillot Laura 1,  Blondot Marie-Lise 2,  Recordon-Pinson Patricia 2 3,  Pellegrin Isabelle 4,  Boizard-Moracchini Andrea 4,  Sliusar Myroslava 1,  Leboucq Teo 1,  Pujol Nadege 1,  Andreola Marie-Line 2 3,  Bonnet Fabrice 5,  Recher Gaelle 6 7,  Andrique Laetitia 8,  Nassoy Pierre 6 7,  Mathivet Thomas 9,  Bikfalvi Andreas 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 BRIC INSERM U1312, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, 33615, France.
  • 2 MFP Laboratory, UMR5234, CNRS Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
  • 3 UB'L3 Laboratory, UAR TBMcore, CNRS 3427-INSERM US05, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
  • 4 Laboratoire d'Immunologie-Immunogenetique, Centre de Ressources Biologiques Bordeaux Biothèques Santé (CRB-BBS), CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
  • 5 Service de Médecine Interne et Maladies Infectieuses, CHU de Bordeaux, Hôpital Saint-André, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Population Health, INSERM U1219, Bordeaux, 33000, France.
  • 6 LP2N, Laboratoire Photonique Numérique et Nanosciences, Univ. Bordeaux, Talence, 33400, France.
  • 7 Institut d'Optique Graduate School and CNRS UMR 5298, Talence, 33400, France.
  • 8 VoxCell 3D Facility UAR TBMcore CNRS, 3427-INSERMUS05, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
  • 9 BRIC INSERM U1312, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, 33615, France. Thomas.mathivet@inserm.fr.
  • 10 BRIC INSERM U1312, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, 33615, France. andreas.bikfalvi@u-bordeaux.fr.
PMID: 40593263 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-08329-z
Abstract

The blood vessel network is heavily impacted by SARS-CoV-2 Infection. How SARS-CoV-2 contributes to vascular inflammation and whether epithelio-endothelial cross-talk is involved remain unclear. We investigated in detail the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the vasculature using 2D and 3D vesseloid in vitro models. We first assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 is able to directly infect endothelial cells. In the absence of ACE2 in endothelial cells, no productive Infection was detected. Low uptake of viral particles by ACE2-overexpressing endothelial cells was observed without efficient viral production. Thus, the indirect effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection may involve epithelio-endothelial cell cross-talk. After Infection of the epithelial cells, a significant inflammatory response was detected in the endothelial cells. CXCL10 was the most highly expressed proinflammatory cytokine involved in this intercellular communication, and its function was subsequently explored. Finally, the clinical relevance of our findings was confirmed in two patient cohorts.

Keywords

CXCL10; Chemokines; Endothelium; SARS-CoV-2.

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