Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation.
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Svobodová B, Löfdahl A, Nybom A, Wigén J, Hirdman G, Olm F, Brunnström H, Lindstedt S, Westergren-Thorsson G, Elowsson L
Biomedicines 12 (12) -
[2024-12-19; online 2024-12-19]
Background/Objectives: A novel patient group with chronic pulmonary fibrosis is emerging post COVID-19. To identify patients at risk of developing post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis, we here aimed to identify systemic proteins that overlap with fibrotic markers identified in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and may predict COVID-19-induced lung fibrosis. Methods: Ninety-two proteins were measured in plasma samples from hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 in Sweden, before the introduction of the vaccination program, as well as from healthy individuals. These measurements were conducted using proximity extension assay (PEA) technology with a panel including inflammatory and remodeling proteins. Histopathological alterations were evaluated in explanted lung tissue. Results: Connecting to IPF pathology, several proteins including decorin (DCN), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 12A (TNFRSF12A) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13) were elevated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, we found incrementing expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) when comparing moderate to severe COVID-19. Conclusions: Both extracellular matrix- and inflammation-associated proteins were identified as overlapping with pulmonary fibrosis, where we found DCN, TNFRSF12A, CXCL13, CXCL9, MCP-3 and HGF to be of particular interest to follow up on for the prediction of disease severity.
PubMed 39767799
DOI 10.3390/biomedicines12122893
Crossref 10.3390/biomedicines12122893
pmc: PMC11727205
pii: biomedicines12122893