The Fibrin-derived Peptide Bβ15-42 (FX06) Protects Human Pulmonary Endothelial Cells Against COVID-19-Triggered Cytokines

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been a major health emergency since 2019. Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of COVID-19, which leads to severe illness, i.e. multi-organ failure, coagulopathy, and death. FX06, a fibrin-derived peptide naturally occurring in the human body, formerly known as Bβ15-42, protects the vasculature in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in animal models and clinical trials. Therefore, it is a promising therapeutic candidate for endothelial complications like capillary leak in COVID-19 and other forms of acute respiratory disorders. This project aims to investigate in vitro whether FX06 can help to prevent COVID-19 progression.