1
|
Sandi JD, Levy JI, Tapela K, Zeller M, Yeboah JA, Saka DF, Grant DS, Awandare GA, Quashie PK, Andersen KG, Paemka L. Upper Airway Epithelial Tissue Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Immune Signatures Associated with COVID-19 Severity in Ghanaians. J Immunol Res 2024; 2024:6668017. [PMID: 38375062 PMCID: PMC10876312 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6668017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The immunological signatures driving the severity of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) in Ghanaians remain poorly understood. We performed bulk transcriptome sequencing of nasopharyngeal samples from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected Ghanaians with mild and severe COVID-19, as well as healthy controls to characterize immune signatures at the primary SARS-CoV-2 infection site and identify drivers of disease severity. Generally, a heightened antiviral response was observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected Ghanaians compared with uninfected controls. COVID-19 severity was associated with immune suppression, overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines, including CRNN, IL1A, S100A7, and IL23A, and activation of pathways involved in keratinocyte proliferation. SAMD9L was among the differentially regulated interferon-stimulated genes in our mild and severe disease cohorts, suggesting that it may play a critical role in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. By comparing our data with a publicly available dataset from a non-African (Indians) (GSE166530), an elevated expression of antiviral response-related genes was noted in COVID-19-infected Ghanaians. Overall, the study describes immune signatures driving COVID-19 severity in Ghanaians and identifies immune drivers that could serve as potential prognostic markers for future outbreaks or pandemics. It further provides important preliminary evidence suggesting differences in antiviral response at the upper respiratory interface in sub-Saharan Africans (Ghanaians) and non-Africans, which could be contributing to the differences in disease outcomes. Further studies using larger datasets from different populations will expand on these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Demby Sandi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Faculty of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Joshua I. Levy
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | - Kesego Tapela
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mark Zeller
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | - Joshua Afari Yeboah
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Daniel Frimpong Saka
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Donald S. Grant
- Faculty of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Gordon A. Awandare
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter K. Quashie
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kristian G. Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California 92037, USA
| | - Lily Paemka
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mao M, Dian Y, Sun Y, Chen W, Zhu W, Deng G. Lactate dehydrogenase predicts disease progression outcome in COVID-19 patients treated with Azvudine. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1237277. [PMID: 37920449 PMCID: PMC10619747 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1237277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Azvudine has been approved in China for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Previous studies have suggested a correlation between high levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the severity of COVID-19. However, the impact of LDH levels in COVID-19 patients receiving Azvudine treatment remains unclear. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the data of 351 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were consecutively treated with Azvudine, with or without high LDH levels. The clinical features, treatment strategies and prognosis data were collected and analyzed. Results Among the 351 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with Azvudine (119 with high-LDH levels), the median age was 69 years (range 58-78), and 213 (60.7%) were male. Common symptoms included cough (86.0%), expectoration (73.5%), fever (69.8%), polypnea (47.6%) and poor appetite (46.4%). Patients with high LDH levels exhibited significantly elevated leucocyte and neutrophil counts, elevated level of myocardial enzymes, as well as higher levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6, interleukin-10, procalcitonin, C reactive protein, ferritin, and prolonged erythrocyte sedimentation rate upon admission. COVID-19 patients with high-LDH levels had higher rates of corticosteroid therapy, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, worsened and death (2.5% vs. 0%). The Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that high LDH levels (adjusted hazard ratio = 5.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 14.50) were associated with a more unfavorable composite disease progression outcome among COVID-19 patients treated with Azvudine, after accounting for potential confounding variables. Conclusion High-LDH levels predict a worse composite disease progression outcome in COVID-19 patients treated with Azvudine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manyun Mao
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yating Dian
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yuming Sun
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wangqing Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wu Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guangtong Deng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Serrano IMA, Cuyugan AMN, Cruz K, Mahusay JMA, Alibudbud R. Sociodemographic characteristics, social support, and family history as factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young adult senior high school students in metro Manila, Philippines, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1225035. [PMID: 37772068 PMCID: PMC10525313 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1225035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Academic institutions must consider the students at risk for developing poor mental health and the factors influencing them. With the scarcity of literature concerning student mental health in the Philippines, this study determined the factors influencing the risk of anxiety, depression, and stress among senior high school students in metro Manila. Methods This cross-sectional study explored the influence of sociodemographic characteristics, social support, and family history on depression, anxiety, and stress among young adult senior high school students using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). After describing the data, regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 187 participants were recruited. Three out of five participants have a significant risk for depression. Four out of five participants were at significant risk for anxiety. One out of four participants was at risk for significant stress. Social support from a significant other and one's family may be protective factors for significant depression among the participants. Having female sex may be a risk factor for significant anxiety. In addition, having female sex and a family history of mental disorders may be risk factors for significant stress. Discussion Social support should be strengthened among senior high school students to improve their mental well-being. Students at risk for poor mental health, including females and those with a family history of mental disorders, may need additional support in school mental health programs. Finally, further research is recommended to fully understand mental health among Filipino students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rowalt Alibudbud
- Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kuljancic D, Cvjetkovic Bosnjak M, Siladji D, Hinic D, Veskovic D, Janjic N, Ratkovic D, Zivanovic O, Vasic V, Sakic B. The Role of COVID-19-Associated Fear, Stress and Level of Social Support in Development of Suicidality in Patients Diagnosed with Affective and Stress-Induced Psychiatric Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Comparative Analysis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050812. [PMID: 37239284 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Only a few studies seem to address suicidality as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in persons previously affected by psychiatric disorders. The relationship between fear and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of social support and suicidality in patients diagnosed with affective and stress-induced psychiatric disorders prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. This study was observational and involved 100 participants. The examined period was from April 2020 to April 2022. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Oslo Social Support Scale 3 (OSSS-3) and general psychiatric interviews were used to obtain data. A statistically significant relationship between the impact of COVID-19-related distress on the occurrence of suicidality and the year of the pandemic χ2(2, N = 100) = 8.347, p = 0.015 was observed. No statistically significant correlation was found between suicidal behavior, stress intensity, fear and the score on the social support scale (p > 0.05). Fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic can only be seen as a contributor to suicidality. Overall, social support does not always act protectively. Previously stressful experiences such as wars, poverty and natural disasters seem to play a significant role in the resilience to each new public health crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dusan Kuljancic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mina Cvjetkovic Bosnjak
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Djendji Siladji
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Darko Hinic
- Faculty of Science, Department of Psychology, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Dunja Veskovic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Dermatology, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Nebojsa Janjic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dragana Ratkovic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Olga Zivanovic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Vesna Vasic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Branislav Sakic
- Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Vejkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, University Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|