tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Immunol
. 2023 Jan 31;14:1111920.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1111920. eCollection 2023.
Characterization of METRNβ as a novel biomarker of Coronavirus disease 2019 severity and prognosis
Xun Gao[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Paul Kay-Sheung Chan[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Katie Ching-Yau Wong[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rita Wai-Yin Ng[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Apple Chung-Man Yeung[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Grace Chung-Yan Lui[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Lowell Ling[SUP] 6 [/SUP], David Shu-Cheong Hui[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Danqi Huang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chun-Kwok Wong[SUP] 2 7 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing worldwide, with complications due to frequent viral mutations, an intricate pathophysiology, and variable host immune responses. Biomarkers with predictive and prognostic value are crucial but lacking.
Methods: Serum samples from authentic and D614G variant (non-Omicron), and Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were collected for METRNβ detection and longitudinal cytokine/chemokine analysis. Correlation analyses were performed to compare the relationships between serum METRNβ levels and cytokines/chemokines, laboratory parameters, and disease severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of METRNβ in COVID-19.
Results: The serum level of METRNβ was highly elevated in non-Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients compared to healthy individuals, and the non-survivor displayed higher METRNβ levels than survivors among the critical ones. METRNβ concentration showed positive correlation with viral load in NAPS. ROC curve showed that a baseline METRNβ level of 1886.89 pg/ml distinguished COVID-19 patients from non-infected individuals with an AUC of 0.830. Longitudinal analysis of cytokine/chemokine profiles revealed a positive correlation between METRNβ and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL6, and an inverse correlation with soluble CD40L (sCD40L). Higher METRNβ was associated with increased mortality. These findings were validated in a second and third cohort of COVID-19 patients identified in a subsequent wave.
Discussion: Our study uncovered the precise role of METRNβ in predicting the severity of COVID-19, thus providing a scientific basis for further evaluation of the role of METRNβ in triage therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: COVID-19; METRNβ; biomarker; cytokines; prognostic.
. 2023 Jan 31;14:1111920.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1111920. eCollection 2023.
Characterization of METRNβ as a novel biomarker of Coronavirus disease 2019 severity and prognosis
Xun Gao[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Paul Kay-Sheung Chan[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Katie Ching-Yau Wong[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rita Wai-Yin Ng[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Apple Chung-Man Yeung[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Grace Chung-Yan Lui[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Lowell Ling[SUP] 6 [/SUP], David Shu-Cheong Hui[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Danqi Huang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Chun-Kwok Wong[SUP] 2 7 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36798115
- PMCID: PMC9927217
- DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1111920
Abstract
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing worldwide, with complications due to frequent viral mutations, an intricate pathophysiology, and variable host immune responses. Biomarkers with predictive and prognostic value are crucial but lacking.
Methods: Serum samples from authentic and D614G variant (non-Omicron), and Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were collected for METRNβ detection and longitudinal cytokine/chemokine analysis. Correlation analyses were performed to compare the relationships between serum METRNβ levels and cytokines/chemokines, laboratory parameters, and disease severity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of METRNβ in COVID-19.
Results: The serum level of METRNβ was highly elevated in non-Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients compared to healthy individuals, and the non-survivor displayed higher METRNβ levels than survivors among the critical ones. METRNβ concentration showed positive correlation with viral load in NAPS. ROC curve showed that a baseline METRNβ level of 1886.89 pg/ml distinguished COVID-19 patients from non-infected individuals with an AUC of 0.830. Longitudinal analysis of cytokine/chemokine profiles revealed a positive correlation between METRNβ and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL6, and an inverse correlation with soluble CD40L (sCD40L). Higher METRNβ was associated with increased mortality. These findings were validated in a second and third cohort of COVID-19 patients identified in a subsequent wave.
Discussion: Our study uncovered the precise role of METRNβ in predicting the severity of COVID-19, thus providing a scientific basis for further evaluation of the role of METRNβ in triage therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: COVID-19; METRNβ; biomarker; cytokines; prognostic.