Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> A novel patient group with chronic pulmonary fibrosis is emerging post COVID-19. To identify patients at risk of developing post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis, we here aimed to identify systemic proteins that overlap with fibrotic markers identified in patients wit...

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Main Authors: Barbora Svobodová, Anna Löfdahl, Annika Nybom, Jenny Wigén, Gabriel Hirdman, Franziska Olm, Hans Brunnström, Sandra Lindstedt, Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson, Linda Elowsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2893
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author Barbora Svobodová
Anna Löfdahl
Annika Nybom
Jenny Wigén
Gabriel Hirdman
Franziska Olm
Hans Brunnström
Sandra Lindstedt
Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson
Linda Elowsson
author_facet Barbora Svobodová
Anna Löfdahl
Annika Nybom
Jenny Wigén
Gabriel Hirdman
Franziska Olm
Hans Brunnström
Sandra Lindstedt
Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson
Linda Elowsson
author_sort Barbora Svobodová
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> A novel patient group with chronic pulmonary fibrosis is emerging post COVID-19. To identify patients at risk of developing post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis, we here aimed to identify systemic proteins that overlap with fibrotic markers identified in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and may predict COVID-19-induced lung fibrosis. <b>Methods:</b> Ninety-two proteins were measured in plasma samples from hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 in Sweden, before the introduction of the vaccination program, as well as from healthy individuals. These measurements were conducted using proximity extension assay (PEA) technology with a panel including inflammatory and remodeling proteins. Histopathological alterations were evaluated in explanted lung tissue. <b>Results:</b> Connecting to IPF pathology, several proteins including decorin (DCN), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 12A (TNFRSF12A) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13) were elevated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, we found incrementing expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) when comparing moderate to severe COVID-19. <b>Conclusions:</b> Both extracellular matrix- and inflammation-associated proteins were identified as overlapping with pulmonary fibrosis, where we found DCN, TNFRSF12A, CXCL13, CXCL9, MCP-3 and HGF to be of particular interest to follow up on for the prediction of disease severity.
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spelling doaj-art-e90125c37f194812baf2d0f86bd197782024-12-27T14:13:11ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-12-011212289310.3390/biomedicines12122893Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and InflammationBarbora Svobodová0Anna Löfdahl1Annika Nybom2Jenny Wigén3Gabriel Hirdman4Franziska Olm5Hans Brunnström6Sandra Lindstedt7Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson8Linda Elowsson9Lung Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, SwedenLung Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, SwedenLung Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, SwedenLung Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation, Skåne University Hospital, 222 42 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation, Skåne University Hospital, 222 42 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation, Skåne University Hospital, 222 42 Lund, SwedenLung Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, SwedenLung Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden<b>Background/Objectives:</b> A novel patient group with chronic pulmonary fibrosis is emerging post COVID-19. To identify patients at risk of developing post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis, we here aimed to identify systemic proteins that overlap with fibrotic markers identified in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and may predict COVID-19-induced lung fibrosis. <b>Methods:</b> Ninety-two proteins were measured in plasma samples from hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 in Sweden, before the introduction of the vaccination program, as well as from healthy individuals. These measurements were conducted using proximity extension assay (PEA) technology with a panel including inflammatory and remodeling proteins. Histopathological alterations were evaluated in explanted lung tissue. <b>Results:</b> Connecting to IPF pathology, several proteins including decorin (DCN), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 12A (TNFRSF12A) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13) were elevated in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, we found incrementing expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) when comparing moderate to severe COVID-19. <b>Conclusions:</b> Both extracellular matrix- and inflammation-associated proteins were identified as overlapping with pulmonary fibrosis, where we found DCN, TNFRSF12A, CXCL13, CXCL9, MCP-3 and HGF to be of particular interest to follow up on for the prediction of disease severity.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2893COVID-19fibrosisIPFbiomarkersDCNTNFRSF12A
spellingShingle Barbora Svobodová
Anna Löfdahl
Annika Nybom
Jenny Wigén
Gabriel Hirdman
Franziska Olm
Hans Brunnström
Sandra Lindstedt
Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson
Linda Elowsson
Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation
Biomedicines
COVID-19
fibrosis
IPF
biomarkers
DCN
TNFRSF12A
title Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation
title_full Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation
title_fullStr Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation
title_full_unstemmed Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation
title_short Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation
title_sort overlapping systemic proteins in covid 19 and lung fibrosis associated with tissue remodeling and inflammation
topic COVID-19
fibrosis
IPF
biomarkers
DCN
TNFRSF12A
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2893
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