ABSTRACT
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat to human health. Many hypotheses regarding pathogenesis have been proposed and are being tried to be clarified by experimental and clinical studies. This study aimed to reveal the roles of the innate immune system modulator GAS6/sAXL pathway, endothelial dysfunction markers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and antiviral effective TRIM25 and TRIM56 proteins in pathogenesis of COVID-19. The study included 55 patients with COVID-19 and 25 healthy individuals. The serum levels of GAS6, sAXL, VEGF, HIF-1α, TRIM25, and TRIM56 were measured using commercial ELISA kits and differences between COVID-19 patients and healthy controls, and the relationship to severity and prognosis were evaluated. GAS6, sAXL, TRIM56, and VEGF were found to be higher, while TRIM25 was lower in patients. There were strong positive correlations between GAS6, sAXL, TRIM25, TRIM56, and VEGF. None of the research parameters other than HIF-1α was associated with severity or prognosis. However, HIF-1α was positively correlated with APACHE II. We speculate that the antiviral effective TRIM25 and TRIM56 proteins, as well as the GAS6/sAXL pathway, act together as a defense mechanism in COVID-19. We hope that our study will contribute to further studies to elucidate the molecular mechanism associated with TRIM56, TRIM25, GAS6, sAXL, and VEGF in COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Background/aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been appeared first in China since December 2019. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs primarily with droplets through coughing and sneezing and also occurs through inhalation of aerosolized secretions, which travel, remain suspended in the air longer. Materials and methods: Since early stages of the outbreak, COVID-19 cases have been described in healthcare workers (HCWs). However, in the early stages, the disease may be asymptomatic. This may lead to incorrect diagnosis or delayed diagnosis and may lead to the nosocomial spread of the virus. One of the most important causes of transmission among HCWs is being exposed to an aerosolized virus in a closed environment for a long time. It is possible to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in hospitals with outpatient treatment and triage. Results: Infection control measures, including wearing surgical masks, hand hygiene, and social distance are considered essential in preventing human-to-human transmissions of SARS-CoV-2. Immediate response and practices of infection control measures are critical for saving lives during an epidemic inside and outside the hospital. Conclusion: Analyzing current knowledge about the features of SARS-CoV-2 infection, screening, personal protection protocols, triage and psychological support practices for healthcare professionals can be promising in terms of controlling the infection.