Pro-inflammatory markers associated with COVID-19-related persistent olfactory dysfunction.
Int Forum Allergy Rhinol
; 14(4): 786-793, 2024 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37676246
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
While localized inflammation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) olfactory dysfunction (OD), persistent COVID-19 OD remains poorly understood with limited therapeutics. Our prospective study evaluated olfactory cleft (OC) biomarkers as predictors of persistent OD in mucus sampling.METHODS:
COVID-19 subjects with persistent OD >3 months confirmed by psychophysical olfaction tests were compared to COVID-19 subjects with no OD and those with no prior infection. OC mucus samples were evaluated for 13 anti-viral and inflammatory biomarkers. Cohorts were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Mann-Whitney tests with multi-comparison adjustment. Viral RNA was assessed through RT-PCR using the COVID-19 N2 primer.RESULTS:
Thirty-five samples were collected (20 COVID persistent OD, 8 COVID no OD, and 7 non-COVID no OD). Significant differences in IFN-λ1 (p = 0.007) and IFN-γ (p = 0.006) expression in OC mucus were found across all three groups, with the highest cytokine concentrations corresponding to COVID OD. IFN-α2 levels were elevated in COVID OD versus no OD (p = 0.026). Mean IFN-γ levels were the highest in COVID OD, but there were higher levels found in COVID no OD compared to non-COVID no OD (p = 0.008). No difference was seen in IL6. No N2 gene expression was detected in all cohorts.CONCLUSION:
IFN pathway cytokines were found elevated in the olfactory microenvironment of COVID-19 persistent OD compared to those with no OD and no prior history of COVID-19 infection.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
COVID-19
/
Transtornos do Olfato
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article