Comment: can an ancient protein help to control life-threatening enhanced clotting in COVID-19?

What is it about?

Soon after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noted that enhanced blood clotting (thrombosis or embolism) frequently occurred as life-threatening complication in severely ill patients. This complex disorder involves an intense inflammatory response and a strong stimulation of blood clotting, and was named therefore “thromboinflammation”. In previous papers, the authors raised a hypothesis that the natural protein α2-macroglobulin (α2-M) which has been conserved over 500 million years of evolution in many species including humans, might contribute to the protection of children from a severe course in COVID-19. The ancient protein α2-M can be found in all body fluids and is capable by a unique mechanism to trap and neutralize a vast spectrum of functional proteins, including several proteins thought to be involved in COVID-19 thromboinflammation. An important element of progress in clinical care is the implementation of evidence-based medicine (EBM), which means integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. However, in the case of COVID-19 thromboinflammation, the best available evidence appears to be still insufficient.

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Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash

Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The usual therapy of thrombosis with substances which attenuate blood coagulation, i.e., anticoagulants, also known as “blood thinners”, is not sufficiently effective in COVID-19 thromboinflammation. Thus, there is the need to seek further options. The authors suggest that a potential protective role of proteins such as α2-M should be explored.

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