MBOAT7 expression is associated with disease progression in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019 caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 became one of the most challenging health emergencies, hence the necessity to find different prognostic factors for disease progression, and severity. Membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7) demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects through acting as a fine-tune regulator of the amount of cellular free arachidonic acid. We aimed in this study to evaluate MBOAT7 expression in COVID-19 patients and to correlate it with disease severity and outcomes. METHODS: This case-control study included 56 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and 28 control subjects. Patients were further classified into moderate (n = 28) and severe (n = 28) cases. MBOAT7, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) mRNA levels were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples isolated from patients and control subjects by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, circulating MBOAT7 protein levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Significant lower levels of circulating MBOAT7 mRNA and protein were observed in COVID-19 patients compared to control subjects with severe COVID-19 cases showing significant lower levels compared to moderate cases. Moreover, severe cases showed a significant upregulation of TNF-α and IL-1ß mRNA. MBOAT7 mRNA and protein levels were significantly correlated with inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1ß, C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin), liver enzymes, severity, and oxygen saturation levels. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is associated with downregulation of MBAOT7, which correlates with disease severity.

Surfactant protein D, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as biomarkers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the serum levels of surfactant protein D (SP-D), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to assess the correlation of these indices with COPD severity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This analytic cross-sectional study was carried out on 64 COPD male patients, and 26 apparently healthy age-matched males as a control. Chest X-ray, spirometry and arterial blood gases were done for only COPD patients. Serum levels of SP-D, sICAM-1 and hs-CRP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in both patient and control groups. RESULTS: The serum levels of SP-D, sICAM-1 and hs-CRP were significantly higher in COPD patients than controls (p < 0.001 for each). Also, these biomarkers were significantly higher in stages III and IV compared to either stage I or II (p < 0.01 for each). SP-D was significantly positively correlated with sICAM-1 and hs-CRP (r = 515, p < 0.001; r = 501, p < 0.001, respectively) and negatively correlated with PaO2 (r = -0.651, p < 0.001) and all parameters of spirometry. CONCLUSION: SP-D, sICAM and hs-CRP were significantly higher in COPD patients in comparison with controls. Moreover, SP-D, sICAM-1, and hs-CRP were significantly negatively correlated with FEV1%. Accordingly, estimation of these biochemical indices may be used as biomarkers for assessment of COPD severity.