Gut Microbiome and Cytokine Profiles in Post-COVID Syndrome.
Viruses
; 16(5)2024 05 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38793604
ABSTRACT
Recent studies highlight the crucial role of the gut microbiome in post-infectious complications, especially in patients recovering from severe COVID-19. Our research aimed to explore the connection between gut microbiome changes and the cytokine profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we analyzed the composition of the gut microbiome in 60 COVID-19 patients over the course of one year. We also measured the levels of serum cytokines and chemokines using the Milliplex system. Our results showed that severe SARS-CoV-2 infection cases, especially those complicated by pneumonia, induce a pro-inflammatory microbial milieu with heightened presence of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella_9. Furthermore, we found that post-COVID syndrome is characterized by a cross-correlation of various cytokines and chemokines MDC, IL-1b, Fractalkine, TNFa, FGF-2, EGF, IL-1RA, IFN-a2, IL-10, sCD40L, IL-8, Eotaxin, IL-12p40, and MIP-1b as well as a shift in the gut microbiome towards a pro-inflammatory profile. At the functional level, our analysis revealed associations with post-COVID-19 in homolactic fermentation, pentose phosphate, NAD salvage, and flavin biosynthesis. These findings highlight the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota, their metabolites, and systemic cytokines in shaping post-COVID symptoms. Unraveling the gut microbiome's role in post-infectious complications opens avenues for new treatments for those patients with prolonged symptoms.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cytokines
/
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Viruses
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article