Immune complexes, innate immunity, and NETosis in ChAdOx1 vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia
Authors' conclusion
The results show that anti-PF4/polyanion IgG-mediated thrombus formation in VITT patients is accompanied by a massive innate immune activation and particularly the fulminant activation of neutrophils including NETosis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with VITT 7–10 days after first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 adenoviral vector vaccine against COVID-19
- Participants
- 5 patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Precipitated immune complexes revealed multiple innate immune pathway triggers for platelet and leucocyte activation
- Plasma: increased innate immune response cytokines and markers of systemic inflammation, extensive neutrophil degranulation, and tissue and endothelial damage
- Blood: neutrophil activation and increased circulating H3Cit, dsDNA and myeloperoxidase-DNA complex
- Thrombus (1 patient): extensive neutrophil infiltration, NET formation and IgG deposits
Original publication
Immune complexes, innate immunity, and NETosis in ChAdOx1 vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia. Eur Heart J. Published 18 August 2021. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it