Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and BNT162b2 Vaccination on the mRNA Expression of Genes Associated with Angiogenesis

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Due to the rate of spread of this virus, the World Health Organization, in March 2020, recognised COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic. The disease is multisystemic with varying degrees of severity. Unfortunately, despite intensive research, the molecular changes caused by SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. Mechanisms affected by the virus infection include endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis. Similarly, the vaccines developed so far affect the process of angiogenesis, contributing to the development of undesirable effects on part of the cardiovascular system. The presented research aimed to investigate the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine (BNT162b2) on the molecular aspect of angiogenesis. We found that convalescents vaccinated with one dose of BNT162b2 were characterised by higher MMP-7 (metalloproteinases 7) expression than non-vaccinated convalescents and healthy volunteers vaccinated with one dose of BNT162b2. Moreover, non-vaccinated convalescents showed increased mRNA expression of ADAMTS1 (ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 1) compared to healthy volunteers vaccinated with one dose of BNT162b2. In addition, we showed significant sex differences in the expression of MMP-7. In conclusion, the results of our study suggest a significant impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on the course of angiogenesis at the molecular level.

Keywords: BNT162b2 vaccination; COVID-19; angiogenesis; mRNA expression.

Figure 1

mRNA expression of HIF−1α (A), VEGFA (B), MMP−2 (C), MMP−7 (D), MMP−9 (E), TIMP1 (F) and ADAMTS1 (G) in the COVID-19 convalescents, healthy people vaccinated with BNT162b2, convalescents vaccinated with one dose of BNT162b2. Relative gene expression levels were estimated using a 2^−ΔCt (Ct _{target gene} − Ct _18S) method. Data represent means ± SD. * p < 0.05.

Figure 2

Two-way ANOVA shows significant effects of gender and COVID-19/BNT162b2 vaccinations on studied gene expression, including HIF-1α (A), VEGFA (B), MMP-2 (C), MMP-7 (D), MMP-9 (E), TIMP1 (F) and ADAMTS1 (G). Relative gene expression levels were estimated using a 2^−ΔCt (Ct _{target gene} − Ct _18S) method. Data represent means ± SD. # p < 0.05 COVID-19 convalescents vs. vaccinated convalescents, within sex; $ p < 0.05 vaccinated convalescents vs. vaccinated healthy people, within sex.