Epithelial Antimicrobial Peptide/Protein and Cytokine Expression Profiles Obtained from Nasopharyngeal Swabs of SARS-CoV-2-Infected and Non-Infected Subjects.
Viruses
; 16(9)2024 Sep 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39339947
ABSTRACT
Immune responses of the epithelia of the upper respiratory tract are likely crucial in early inhibition of the viral replication and finally clearance of SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to compare the expression profiles of antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs) and related cytokines observed in the nasopharynx of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients and non-infected controls and to assess the associations between these parameters and COVID-19 patients' outcomes. We included 45 subjects who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 22 control subjects who had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Biomaterial for SARS-CoV-2 detection, as well as gene and protein expression studies, was obtained from all subjects using nasopharyngeal swabs which were performed a maximum of 7 days before inclusion in the study. Univariable and multivariable statistics were performed. When compared to the controls, the mRNA expression levels of human ß-defensin 1 (hBD-1), LL-37, and trappin-2 were significantly higher in specimens of nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19 patients. Protein expression of hBD-1 was also increased in the COVID-19 group. mRNA expression levels of interferon-É£ (IFN-É£), tumor necrosis factor- É (TNF-É), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) measured in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients were significantly higher than those observed in the controls, which could also be confirmed in the protein levels of IFN-É£ and IL-6. A significant correlation between mRNA and protein levels could be observed only for IL-6. Univariable analysis revealed that low IFN-É£ mRNA levels were associated with severe/fatal outcomes. The occurrence of COVID-19 pneumonia was significantly associated with lower expression levels of IL-6 mRNA, IFN-É£ mRNA, and TNF-É mRNA. Concerning the severe/fatal outcomes, the multivariable logistic regression model revealed that none of the aforementioned parameters remained significant in the model. However, the logistic regression model revealed that higher TNF-É mRNA expression was a significant independent predictor of absence of pneumonia [odds ratio 0.35 (95% CI 0.14 to 0.88, p = 0.024)]. In conclusion, nasopharyngeal expression of AMPs (hBD-1, LL-37, and trappin-2) and cytokines (IL-6, IFN-É£, and TNF-É) is upregulated in response to early SARS-CoV-2 infection, indicating that these AMPs and cytokines play a role in the local host defense against the virus. Upregulated nasopharyngeal TNF-É mRNA expression during the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection was a significant independent predictor of the absence of COVID-19 pneumonia. Hence, high TNF-É mRNA expression in the nasopharynx appears to be a protective factor for lung complications in COVID-19 patients.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Nasopharynx
/
Cytokines
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Antimicrobial Peptides
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Viruses
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany
Country of publication:
Switzerland