1Cademy - Plasmin and COVID-19

Relation

Plasmin and COVID-19

Elevated plasmin levels are found in COVID-19 patients
Plasmin allows the SARS-CoV-2 virus to bind with ACE2 receptors by cleaving the S protein on the virus
Plasmin breaks down fibrin, increasing the levels of D-dimer and decreasing platelet count; this could possibly prevent inflammation in COVID-19 patients, but it could result in hemorrhaging
Plasminogen is expressed in both endothelial and epithelial cells
Severe and deceased COVID-19 patients had very low platelet counts
However, plasmin causes hypertension and dehydration in the lungs due to an increase in sodium ion uptake