Emerging Role of CD82 Protein in Preventing Blood Vessel Leakage During Severe Inflammation

Recent research from the University of Oklahoma has shed light on the critical function of the protein CD82 in controlling blood vessel permeability, especially during intense inflammatory responses. Blood vessel leakage, a process where vessels lose their integrity and allow fluid and proteins to escape into tissues, is a common feature of severe inflammatory conditions such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and COVID-19. This leakage can trigger widespread inflammation and multi-organ failure, making it a significant concern in managing critically ill patients.

The study highlights that CD82, a member of the tetraspanin family of proteins known to influence cellular processes, plays a pivotal role in destabilizing blood vessel walls under inflammatory conditions. When CD82 was removed in animal models, there was a notable reduction in vascular leakage, indicating that this protein tends to promote vessel permeability during inflammation.

Further investigation revealed that CD82 interacts with a special form of cholesterol present on blood vessel cells. This interaction triggers internal signaling pathways that increase vessel leakiness. Interestingly, reducing the cholesterol levels in these cells with statins—a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs—appeared to reinforce blood vessel integrity and decrease leakage.

These findings suggest new potential therapeutic approaches aimed at stabilizing blood vessels during systemic inflammation. While the current research is at the preclinical stage, it opens the door to possibilities such as repurposing existing drugs like statins to prevent or mitigate multi-organ failure in patients experiencing severe inflammatory responses.

Ultimately, understanding how CD82 influences vascular permeability could lead to innovative treatments designed to protect patients from the deadly consequences of unrestrained inflammation, potentially saving many lives in conditions like sepsis and COVID-19.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-cd82-protein-key-deadly-blood.html