Brain injury, endothelial injury and inflammatory markers are elevated and express sex-specific alterations after COVID-19.
J Neuroinflammation
; 18(1): 277, 2021 Nov 27.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1538080
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Although COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, all organs can be affected including the brain. To date, specific investigations of brain injury markers (BIM) and endothelial injury markers (EIM) have been limited. Additionally, a male bias in disease severity and mortality after COVID-19 is evident globally. Sex differences in the immune response to COVID-19 may mediate this disparity. We investigated BIM, EIM and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine (CC) levels after COVID-19 and in across sexes.METHODS:
Plasma samples from 57 subjects at < 48 h of COVID-19 hospitalization, and 20 matched controls were interrogated for the levels of six BIMs-including GFAP, S100B, Syndecan-1, UCHLI, MAP2 and NSE, two EIMs-including sICAM1 and sVCAM1. Additionally, several cytokines/chemokines were analyzed by multiplex. Statistical and bioinformatics methods were used to measure differences in the marker profiles across (a) COVID-19 vs. controls and (b) men vs. women.RESULTS:
Three BIMs MAP2, NSE and S100B, two EIMs sICAM1 and sVCAM1 and seven CCs GRO IL10, sCD40L, IP10, IL1Ra, MCP1 and TNFα were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the COVID-19 cohort compared to controls. Bioinformatics analysis reveal a stronger positive association between BIM/CC/EIMs in the COVID-19 cohort. Analysis across sex revealed that several BIMs and CCs including NSE, IL10, IL15 and IL8 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in men compared to women. Men also expressed a more robust BIM/ EIM/CC association profile compared to women.CONCLUSION:
The acute elevation of BIMs, CCs, and EIMs and the robust associations among them at COVID-19 hospitalization are suggestive of brain and endothelial injury. Higher BIM and inflammatory markers in men additionally suggest that men are more susceptible to the risk compared to women.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Brain Injuries
/
Cytokines
/
Endothelium
/
COVID-19
/
Inflammation
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
J Neuroinflammation
Journal subject:
Neurology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12974-021-02323-8
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