# Role of Secretoglobin 1A1 Protein in COVID-19-induced Thrombosis

> **NIH NIH R43** · APCBIO INNOVATIONS, INC. · 2021 · $256,467

## Abstract

Severe COVID-19 infection causes coagulopathies leading to stroke, pulmonary embolism, DVT,
and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). These complications of COVID-19 infection
are often lethal and can lead to permanent disability in survivors. COVID-19-induced
coagulopathy is atypical of most respiratory viral infections and it is important to understand the
basis for these effects. Secretoglobin 1A1 (SCGB1A1, also known as CC10, CC16, CCSP, and
uteroglobin) is a small globular immunomodulatory protein that is highly expressed in normal
lungs by Club cells. Club cells are injured during COVID-19 infection, by the extreme
inflammatory response and/or by direct viral infection. Club cell depletion results in SCGB1A1
deficiency. SCGB1A1 is important not only in maintaining lung homeostasis, function, and repair,
but also circulates in the blood where it likely has additional homeostatic functions. SCGB1A1 is
known to inhibit platelet aggregation and Factor XIIIa transglutaminase activity in vitro and may
therefore play a role in vascular and/or blood homeostasis particularly as relates to balancing
coagulation responses. SCGB1A1 is also known to be chemically modified by exposure to
reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) during severe inflammatory responses in the
lungs and the impact of these modifications on the anti-thrombotic activities of SCGB1A1 merits
investigation. The proposed research will investigate the effects of ROS/RNS modification of
SCGB1A1 on coagulation and clot formation in vitro, as well as in an animal model, and then will
evaluate the potential depletion of SCGB1A1 and ROS/RNS-mediated modifications of native
SCGB1A1 in COVID-19 patients and the potentiation of thrombosis in COVID-19 patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10255855
- **Project number:** 1R43HL158368-01
- **Recipient organization:** APCBIO INNOVATIONS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** APRILE L PILON
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $256,467
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10255855

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10255855, Role of Secretoglobin 1A1 Protein in COVID-19-induced Thrombosis (1R43HL158368-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10255855. Licensed CC0.

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