tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Cell Infect Microbiol
. 2021 Dec 16;11:754708.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.754708. eCollection 2021.
Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Levels Were Modulated by SARS-CoV-2 Infection Severity and Its Lessening Was Associated With Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19
José J Valdés-Aguayo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Idalia Garza-Veloz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], José R Vargas-Rodríguez[SUP] 1 [/SUP], María C Martinez-Vazquez[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lorena Avila-Carrasco[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sofia Bernal-Silva[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Carolina González-Fuentes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Andreu Comas-García[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Diana E Alvarado-Hernández[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alba S H Centeno-Ramirez[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Iram P Rodriguez-Sánchez[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Ivan Delgado-Enciso[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Margarita L Martinez-Fierro[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Introduction: During severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the virus hijacks the mitochondria causing damage of its membrane and release of mt-DNA into the circulation which can trigger innate immunity and generate an inflammatory state. In this study, we explored the importance of peripheral blood mt-DNA as an early predictor of evolution in patients with COVID-19 and to evaluate the association between the concentration of mt-DNA and the severity of the disease and the patient's outcome.
Methods: A total 102 patients (51 COVID-19 cases and 51 controls) were included in the study. mt-DNA obtained from peripheral blood was quantified by qRT-PCR using the NADH mitochondrial gene.
Results: There were differences in peripheral blood mt-DNA between patients with COVID-19 (4.25 ng/μl ± 0.30) and controls (3.3 ng/μl ± 0.16) (p = 0.007). Lower mt-DNA concentrations were observed in patients with severe COVID-19 when compared with mild (p= 0.005) and moderate (p= 0.011) cases of COVID-19. In comparison with patients with severe COVID-19 who survived (3.74 ± 0.26 ng/μl) decreased levels of mt-DNA in patients with severe COVID-19 who died (2.4 ± 0.65 ng/μl) were also observed (p = 0.037).
Conclusion: High levels of mt-DNA were associated with COVID-19 and its decrease could be used as a potential biomarker to establish a prognosis of severity and mortality of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; mitochondria; mitochondrial DNA; severity.
. 2021 Dec 16;11:754708.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.754708. eCollection 2021.
Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Levels Were Modulated by SARS-CoV-2 Infection Severity and Its Lessening Was Associated With Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19
José J Valdés-Aguayo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Idalia Garza-Veloz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], José R Vargas-Rodríguez[SUP] 1 [/SUP], María C Martinez-Vazquez[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lorena Avila-Carrasco[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sofia Bernal-Silva[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Carolina González-Fuentes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Andreu Comas-García[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Diana E Alvarado-Hernández[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alba S H Centeno-Ramirez[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Iram P Rodriguez-Sánchez[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Ivan Delgado-Enciso[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Margarita L Martinez-Fierro[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34976854
- PMCID: PMC8716733
- DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.754708
Abstract
Introduction: During severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the virus hijacks the mitochondria causing damage of its membrane and release of mt-DNA into the circulation which can trigger innate immunity and generate an inflammatory state. In this study, we explored the importance of peripheral blood mt-DNA as an early predictor of evolution in patients with COVID-19 and to evaluate the association between the concentration of mt-DNA and the severity of the disease and the patient's outcome.
Methods: A total 102 patients (51 COVID-19 cases and 51 controls) were included in the study. mt-DNA obtained from peripheral blood was quantified by qRT-PCR using the NADH mitochondrial gene.
Results: There were differences in peripheral blood mt-DNA between patients with COVID-19 (4.25 ng/μl ± 0.30) and controls (3.3 ng/μl ± 0.16) (p = 0.007). Lower mt-DNA concentrations were observed in patients with severe COVID-19 when compared with mild (p= 0.005) and moderate (p= 0.011) cases of COVID-19. In comparison with patients with severe COVID-19 who survived (3.74 ± 0.26 ng/μl) decreased levels of mt-DNA in patients with severe COVID-19 who died (2.4 ± 0.65 ng/μl) were also observed (p = 0.037).
Conclusion: High levels of mt-DNA were associated with COVID-19 and its decrease could be used as a potential biomarker to establish a prognosis of severity and mortality of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; mitochondria; mitochondrial DNA; severity.