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Cunha Filho AADA, Pugliese Neto PM, Pereira GH, de Lima Filho NG, Sakakisbara LA, Estofolete CF, Nogueira ML, de Mattos LC, Brandão CC. Portable color retinography findings in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ward. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2024; 45:103965. [PMID: 38218571 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2024.103965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Retinal lesions, including cotton-wool exudates, microbleeds, vascular occlusions and vasculitis, occur in a minority of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. Retinal assessments using retinography can help document these lesions. The objective of this work was to identify retinal changes in patients admitted to the ward with a positive Real Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) exam for COVID-19. A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out of patients with mild and moderate symptoms admitted to the Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto. The Eyer® portable retinal camera (Phelcom® Technologies) was used to evaluate 30 male and 21 female patients. The ages ranged from 21 to 83 years (mean: 47 years). Systemic arterial hypertension was identified in 21 (41.2 %) and diabetes mellitus in 12 (23.5 %) patients. Six (11.7 %) reported worsening visual acuity, however, none of these patients had ocular findings to justify this complaint. Ten patients (19.6 %) had intraretinal hemorrhages; one (1.9 %) had cotton-wool exudates and seven (13.7 %) had dilations of veins. Thirteen patients (25.4 %) had vascular tortuosity and six (11.7 %) had pathological arteriovenous crossings. Portable retinography is useful to evaluate patients admitted to isolation wards due to COVID-19. It is important to remember that some of the patients investigated had comorbidities like diabetic maculopathy and systemic arterial hypertension. Hence, some care should be taken in attributing these observations uniquely to COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antônio Augusto de Andrade Cunha Filho
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Base Regional Medical School Foundation (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Perseu Matheus Pugliese Neto
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Base Regional Medical School Foundation (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Hamra Pereira
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Base Regional Medical School Foundation (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Neuder Gouveia de Lima Filho
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Base Regional Medical School Foundation (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis Antonio Sakakisbara
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Base Regional Medical School Foundation (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Cássia Fernanda Estofolete
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Base Regional Medical School Foundation (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Luiz Carlos de Mattos
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Cinara Cássia Brandão
- Medicine School of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
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2
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Anitha AK, Narayanan P, Ajayakumar N, Sivakumar KC, Kumar KS. Novel small synthetic HIV-1 V3 crown variants: CCR5 targeting ligands. J Biochem 2022; 172:149-164. [PMID: 35708645 PMCID: PMC9445593 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) antagonism represents a promising pharmacological strategy for therapeutic intervention as it plays a significant role in reducing the severity and progression of a wide range of pathological conditions. Here we designed and generated peptide ligands targeting the chemokine receptor, CCR5, that were derived from the critical interaction sites of the V3 crown domain of envelope protein glycoprotein gp120 (TRKSIHIGPGRAFYTTGEI) of HIV-1 using computational biology approach and the peptide sequence corresponding to this region was taken as the template peptide, designated as TMP-1. The peptide variants were synthesized by employing Fmoc chemistry using polymer support and were labelled with rhodamine B to study their interaction with the CCR5 receptor expressed on various cells. TMP-1 and TMP-2 were selected as the high-affinity ligands from in vitro receptor-binding assays. Specific receptor-binding experiments in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HOS.CCR5 cells indicated that TMP-1 and TMP-2 had significant CCR5 specificity. Further, the functional analysis of TMP peptides using chemotactic migration assay showed that both peptides did not mediate the migration of responsive cells. Thus, template
TMP-1 and TMP-2 represent promising CCR5 targeting peptide candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anju Krishnan Anitha
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Pathogen biology research program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India.,University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Pratibha Narayanan
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Pathogen biology research program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India.,University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Neethu Ajayakumar
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Pathogen biology research program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India.,University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Krishnankutty Chandrika Sivakumar
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Pathogen biology research program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India
| | - Kesavakurup Santhosh Kumar
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Pathogen biology research program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India
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3
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Viral and Host Genetic and Epigenetic Biomarkers Related to SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry, Infection Rate, and Disease Severity. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020178. [PMID: 35205046 PMCID: PMC8869311 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The rapid spread of COVID-19 outbreak lead to a global pandemic declared in March 2020. The common features of corona virus family helped to resolve structural characteristics and entry mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. However, rapid mutagenesis leads to the emergence of new strains that may have different reproduction rates or infectivity and may impact the course and severity of the disease. Host related factors may also play a role in the susceptibility for infection as well as the severity and outcomes of the COVID-19. We have performed a literature and database search to summarize potential viral and host-related genomic and epigenomic biomarkers, such as genetic variability, miRNA, and DNA methylation in the molecular pathway of SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell, that may be related to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Bioinformatics tools may help to predict the effect of mutations in the spike protein on the binding to the ACE2 receptor and the infectivity of the strain. SARS-CoV-2 may also target several transcription factors and tumour suppressor genes, thus influencing the expression of different host genes and affecting cell signalling. In addition, the virus may interfere with RNA expression in host cells by exploiting endogenous miRNA and its viral RNA. Our analysis showed that numerous human miRNA may form duplexes with different coding and non-coding regions of viral RNA. Polymorphisms in human genes responsible for viral entry and replication, as well as in molecular damage response and inflammatory pathways may also contribute to disease prognosis and outcome. Gene ontology analysis shows that proteins encoded by such polymorphic genes are highly interconnected in regulation of defense response. Thus, virus and host related genetic and epigenetic biomarkers may help to predict the course of the disease and the response to treatment.
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4
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Zepeda-Cervantes J, Martínez-Flores D, Ramírez-Jarquín JO, Tecalco-Cruz ÁC, Alavez-Pérez NS, Vaca L, Sarmiento-Silva RE. Implications of the Immune Polymorphisms of the Host and the Genetic Variability of SARS-CoV-2 in the Development of COVID-19. Viruses 2022; 14:94. [PMID: 35062298 PMCID: PMC8778858 DOI: 10.3390/v14010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current pandemic affecting almost all countries in the world. SARS-CoV-2 is the agent responsible for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), which has claimed millions of lives around the world. In most patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection does not cause clinical signs. However, some infected people develop symptoms, which include loss of smell or taste, fever, dry cough, headache, severe pneumonia, as well as coagulation disorders. The aim of this work is to report genetic factors of SARS-CoV-2 and host-associated to severe COVID-19, placing special emphasis on the viral entry and molecules of the immune system involved with viral infection. Besides this, we analyze SARS-CoV-2 variants and their structural characteristics related to the binding to polymorphic angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2). Additionally, we also review other polymorphisms as well as some epigenetic factors involved in the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19. These factors and viral variability could explain the increment of infection rate and/or in the development of severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Zepeda-Cervantes
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Daniel Martínez-Flores
- Departamento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Josué Orlando Ramírez-Jarquín
- Departamento de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Ángeles C. Tecalco-Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Noé Santiago Alavez-Pérez
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07340, Mexico;
| | - Luis Vaca
- Departamento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Rosa Elena Sarmiento-Silva
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
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5
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Starcevic Cizmarevic N, Kapovic M, Roncevic D, Ristic S. Could the CCR5-Delta32 mutation be protective in SARS-CoV-2 infection? Physiol Res 2021; 70:S249-S252. [PMID: 34913355 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence points to host genetics as a factor in COVID-19 prevalence and outcome. CCR5 is a receptor for proinflammatory chemokines that are involved in host responses, especially to viruses. The CCR5-delta32 minor allele is an interesting variant, given the role of CCR5 in some viral infections, particularly HIV-1. Recent studies of the impact of CCR5-delta32 on COVID-19 risk and severity have yielded contradictory results. This ecologic study shows that the CCR5-delta32 allelic frequency in a European population was significantly negatively correlated with the number of COVID-19 cases (p=0.035) and deaths (p=0.006) during the second pandemic wave. These results suggest that CCR5-delta32 may be protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection, as it is against HIV infection, and could be predictive of COVID-19 risk and severity. Further studies based on samples from populations of different genetic backgrounds are needed to validate these statistically obtained findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Starcevic Cizmarevic
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
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6
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Kulmann-Leal B, Ellwanger JH, Chies JAB. CCR5Δ32 in Brazil: Impacts of a European Genetic Variant on a Highly Admixed Population. Front Immunol 2021; 12:758358. [PMID: 34956188 PMCID: PMC8703165 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.758358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic background of Brazilians encompasses Amerindian, African, and European components as a result of the colonization of an already Amerindian inhabited region by Europeans, associated to a massive influx of Africans. Other migratory flows introduced into the Brazilian population genetic components from Asia and the Middle East. Currently, Brazil has a highly admixed population and, therefore, the study of genetic factors in the context of health or disease in Brazil is a challenging and remarkably interesting subject. This phenomenon is exemplified by the genetic variant CCR5Δ32, a 32 base-pair deletion in the CCR5 gene. CCR5Δ32 originated in Europe, but the time of origin as well as the selective pressures that allowed the maintenance of this variant and the establishment of its current frequencies in the different human populations is still a field of debates. Due to its origin, the CCR5Δ32 allele frequency is high in European-derived populations (~10%) and low in Asian and African native human populations. In Brazil, the CCR5Δ32 allele frequency is intermediate (4-6%) and varies on the Brazilian States, depending on the migratory history of each region. CCR5 is a protein that regulates the activity of several immune cells, also acting as the main HIV-1 co-receptor. The CCR5 expression is influenced by CCR5Δ32 genotypes. No CCR5 expression is observed in CCR5Δ32 homozygous individuals. Thus, the CCR5Δ32 has particular effects on different diseases. At the population level, the effect that CCR5Δ32 has on European populations may be different than that observed in highly admixed populations. Besides less evident due to its low frequency in admixed groups, the effect of the CCR5Δ32 variant may be affected by other genetic traits. Understanding the effects of CCR5Δ32 on Brazilians is essential to predict the potential use of pharmacological CCR5 modulators in Brazil. Therefore, this study reviews the impacts of the CCR5Δ32 on the Brazilian population, considering infectious diseases, inflammatory conditions, and cancer. Finally, this article provides a general discussion concerning the impacts of a European-derived variant, the CCR5Δ32, on a highly admixed population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - José Artur Bogo Chies
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia e Imunogenética, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular (PPGBM), Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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7
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Patterson BK, Guevara-Coto J, Yogendra R, Francisco EB, Long E, Pise A, Rodrigues H, Parikh P, Mora J, Mora-Rodríguez RA. Immune-Based Prediction of COVID-19 Severity and Chronicity Decoded Using Machine Learning. Front Immunol 2021; 12:700782. [PMID: 34262570 PMCID: PMC8273732 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.700782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of CCR5 and its cognate ligands have been implicated in COVID-19 pathogenesis, consequently therapeutics directed against CCR5 are being investigated. Here, we explored the role of CCR5 and its ligands across the immunologic spectrum of COVID-19. We used a bioinformatics approach to predict and model the immunologic phases of COVID so that effective treatment strategies can be devised and monitored. We investigated 224 individuals including healthy controls and patients spanning the COVID-19 disease continuum. We assessed the plasma and isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 29 healthy controls, 26 Mild-Moderate COVID-19 individuals, 48 Severe COVID-19 individuals, and 121 individuals with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptoms. Immune subset profiling and a 14-plex cytokine panel were run on all patients from each group. B-cells were significantly elevated compared to healthy control individuals (P<0.001) as was the CD14+, CD16+, CCR5+ monocytic subset (P<0.001). CD4 and CD8 positive T-cells expressing PD-1 as well as T-regulatory cells were significantly lower than healthy controls (P<0.001 and P=0.01 respectively). CCL5/RANTES, IL-2, IL-4, CCL3, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and VEGF were all significantly elevated compared to healthy controls (all P<0.001). Conversely GM-CSF and CCL4 were in significantly lower levels than healthy controls (P=0.01). Data were further analyzed and the classes were balanced using SMOTE. With a balanced working dataset, we constructed 3 random forest classifiers: a multi-class predictor, a Severe disease group binary classifier and a PASC binary classifier. Models were also analyzed for feature importance to identify relevant cytokines to generate a disease score. Multi-class models generated a score specific for the PASC patients and defined as S1 = (IFN-γ + IL-2)/CCL4-MIP-1β. Second, a score for the Severe COVID-19 patients was defined as S2 = (IL-6+sCD40L/1000 + VEGF/10 + 10*IL-10)/(IL-2 + IL-8). Severe COVID-19 patients are characterized by excessive inflammation and dysregulated T cell activation, recruitment, and counteracting activities. While PASC patients are characterized by a profile able to induce the activation of effector T cells with pro-inflammatory properties and the capacity of generating an effective immune response to eliminate the virus but without the proper recruitment signals to attract activated T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jose Guevara-Coto
- Department of Computer Science and Informatics (ECCI), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Ram Yogendra
- Lab of Tumor Chemosensitivity, CIET/DC Lab, Faculty of Microbiology, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | | | - Emily Long
- IncellDx Inc, San Carlos, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Purvi Parikh
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, NYU Langone Tisch Hospital, New York, NY, United States
| | - Javier Mora
- Lab of Tumor Chemosensitivity, CIET/DC Lab, Faculty of Microbiology, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Rodrigo A Mora-Rodríguez
- Lab of Tumor Chemosensitivity, CIET/DC Lab, Faculty of Microbiology, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
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Cuesta-Llavona E, Gómez J, Albaiceta GM, Amado-Rodríguez L, García-Clemente M, Gutiérrez-Rodríguez J, López-Alonso I, Hermida T, Enríquez AI, Hernández-González C, Gil-Peña H, Domínguez-Garrido E, Pérez-Oliveira S, Alvarez V, López-Larrea C, Suarez-Alvarez B, Tranche S, Jimeno-Demuth FJ, Coto E. Variant-genetic and transcript-expression analysis showed a role for the chemokine-receptor CCR5 in COVID-19 severity. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 98:107825. [PMID: 34116286 PMCID: PMC8169316 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been implicated in COVID-19. CCR5 and its ligands are overexpressed in patients. The pharmacological targeting of CCR5 would improve the COVID-19 severity. We sought to investigate the role of the CCR5-Δ32 variant (rs333) in COVID-19. The CCR5-Δ32 was genotyped in 801 patients (353 in the intensive care unit, ICU) and 660 healthy controls, and the deletion was significantly less frequent in hospitalysed COVID-19 than in healthy controls (p = 0.01, OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.49–0.88). Of note, we did not find homozygotes among the patients, compared to 1% of the controls. The CCR5 transcript was measured in leukocytes from 85 patients and 40 controls. We found a significantly higher expression of the CCR5 transcript among the patients, with significant difference when comparing the non-deletion carriers (controls = 35; patients = 81; p = 0.01). ICU-patients showed non-significantly higher expression than no-ICU cases. Our study points to CCR5 as a genetic marker for COVID-19. The pharmacological targeting of CCR5 should be a promising treatment for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elías Cuesta-Llavona
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan Gómez
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Guillermo M Albaiceta
- Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiológicos, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; CIBER-Enfermedades Respiratorias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Laura Amado-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiológicos, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; CIBER-Enfermedades Respiratorias. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Marta García-Clemente
- Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - José Gutiérrez-Rodríguez
- Geriatría, Hospital Monte Naranco, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Inés López-Alonso
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Tamara Hermida
- Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana I Enríquez
- Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Helena Gil-Peña
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | | | - Victoria Alvarez
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Carlos López-Larrea
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Red de Investigación Renal (REDINREN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suarez-Alvarez
- Translation Immunology Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias-ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Salvador Tranche
- Centro Salud El cristo, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Eliecer Coto
- Genética Molecular, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado deAsturias, ISPA, Oviedo, Spain; Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain; Red de Investigación Renal (REDINREN), Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Cantalupo S, Lasorsa VA, Russo R, Andolfo I, D’Alterio G, Rosato BE, Frisso G, Abete P, Cassese GM, Servillo G, Gentile I, Piscopo C, Della Monica M, Fiorentino G, Russo G, Cerino P, Buonerba C, Pierri B, Zollo M, Iolascon A, Capasso M. Regulatory Noncoding and Predicted Pathogenic Coding Variants of CCR5 Predispose to Severe COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5372. [PMID: 34065289 PMCID: PMC8161088 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) found locus 3p21.31 associated with severe COVID-19. CCR5 resides at the same locus and, given its known biological role in other infection diseases, we investigated if common noncoding and rare coding variants, affecting CCR5, can predispose to severe COVID-19. We combined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that met the suggestive significance level (P ≤ 1 × 10-5) at the 3p21.31 locus in public GWAS datasets (6406 COVID-19 hospitalized patients and 902,088 controls) with gene expression data from 208 lung tissues, Hi-C, and Chip-seq data. Through whole exome sequencing (WES), we explored rare coding variants in 147 severe COVID-19 patients. We identified three SNPs (rs9845542, rs12639314, and rs35951367) associated with severe COVID-19 whose risk alleles correlated with low CCR5 expression in lung tissues. The rs35951367 resided in a CTFC binding site that interacts with CCR5 gene in lung tissues and was confirmed to be associated with severe COVID-19 in two independent datasets. We also identified a rare coding variant (rs34418657) associated with the risk of developing severe COVID-19. Our results suggest a biological role of CCR5 in the progression of COVID-19 as common and rare genetic variants can increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19 by affecting the functions of CCR5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sueva Cantalupo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Vito Alessandro Lasorsa
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Roberta Russo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Immacolata Andolfo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | | | - Barbara Eleni Rosato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Giulia Frisso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Pasquale Abete
- COVID Hospital, P.O.S. Anna e SS. Madonna della Neve di Boscotrecase, Ospedali Riuniti Area Vesuviana, 80042 Boscotrecase, Italy; (P.A.); (G.M.C.)
| | - Gian Marco Cassese
- COVID Hospital, P.O.S. Anna e SS. Madonna della Neve di Boscotrecase, Ospedali Riuniti Area Vesuviana, 80042 Boscotrecase, Italy; (P.A.); (G.M.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Servillo
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Ivan Gentile
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Carmelo Piscopo
- Medical and Laboratory Genetics Unit, A.O.R.N. ‘Antonio Cardarelli’, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (C.P.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Matteo Della Monica
- Medical and Laboratory Genetics Unit, A.O.R.N. ‘Antonio Cardarelli’, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (C.P.); (M.D.M.)
| | | | - Giuseppe Russo
- Unità di Radiologia, Casa di Cura Villa dei Fiori, 80011 Acerra, Italy;
| | - Pellegrino Cerino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (P.C.); (C.B.); (B.P.)
| | - Carlo Buonerba
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (P.C.); (C.B.); (B.P.)
| | - Biancamaria Pierri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy; (P.C.); (C.B.); (B.P.)
- Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, Università di Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Massimo Zollo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Achille Iolascon
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Mario Capasso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80136 Napoli, Italy; (S.C.); (V.A.L.); (R.R.); (I.A.); (B.E.R.); (G.F.); (M.Z.); (A.I.)
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145 Napoli, Italy;
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10
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Hubacek JA, Dusek L, Majek O, Adamek V, Cervinkova T, Dlouha D, Pavel J, Adamkova V. CCR5Delta32 deletion as a protective factor in Czech first-wave COVID-19 subjects. Physiol Res 2021; 70:111-115. [PMID: 33728925 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has spread widely around the globe. Significant inter-individual differences have been observed during the course of the infection, which suggests that genetic susceptibility may be a contributing factor. CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), which acts as a co-receptor for the entry of HIV-1 into cells, is promising candidate whose can have an influence on SARS-CoV-2 infection. A genetic mutation known as CCR5Delta32, consisting of a 32-nucleotide deletion, encodes a truncated protein that protects homozygous carriers of the deletion from HIV-1 infection. Similarly, inhibition of CCR5 seems to be protective against COVID-19. In our study, we successfully genotyped 416 first-wave SARS-CoV-2-positive infection survivors (164 asymptomatic and 252 symptomatic) for CCR5?32, comparing them with a population based sample of 2,404 subjects. We found the highest number (P=0.03) of CCR5Delta32 carriers in SARS-CoV-2-positive/COVID-19-asympto-matic subjects (23.8 %) and the lowest number in SARS-CoV-2-positive/COVID-19-symptomatic patients (16.7 %), with frequency in the control population in the middle (21.0 %). We conclude that the CCR5?32 I/D polymorphism may have the potential to predict the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Hubacek
- Experimental Medicine Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague 4, Czech Republic.
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11
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Elneil S, Lalezari JP, Pourhassan NZ. Case study of a critically ill person with COVID-19 on ECMO successfully treated with leronlimab. J Transl Autoimmun 2021; 4:100097. [PMID: 33778462 PMCID: PMC7985604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of confirmed cases of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues to increase and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in virtually every country in the world. Although in the long-term mass vaccinations remains the most promising approach to control the pandemic, evidence suggests that new variants of the virus have emerged that may be able to evade the immune responses triggered by current vaccines. Therefore despite the recent approval of a number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines there remains considerable urgency for effective treatments for COVID-19. Severe-to-critical COVID-19 has been shown to be associated with a dysregulated host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 with elevated levels of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) ligands including chemokine C-C ligands 3, 4, 5, as well as interleukins 6 and 10. Leronlimab, a CCR5-specific humanised IgG4 monoclonal antibody originally developed for the treatment of HIV has been studied for the treatment of COVID-19. In the TEMPEST trial which compared leronlimab to placebo in subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, a post hoc analysis showed that leronlimab led to improvements from baseline in National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) at Day 14 in the sub-set of people with more severe disease. Data has also been released on a further ongoing, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 registrational trial of leronlimab in 394 people with severe-to-critical COVID-19. The results show that Day 28 mortality was reduced (P = 0.0319) in the subset of participants receiving leronlimab plus other pre-specified commonly used COVID-19 treatments including dexamethasone administered as part of their standard of care (SOC) compared to participants receiving placebo plus other pre-specified commonly used COVID-19 treatments including dexamethasone as part of their SOC. Several cases have recently been reported demonstrated that treatment with leronlimab restores immune function and achieves clinical improvement in people with critical COVID-19. Here we report on a further case of a critically ill person who was treated with leronlimab. This person had been on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for an extended period of time before receiving 4 doses of leronlimab. The male subject received his first dose of leronlimab on Day 79 of hospitalization he was weaned off ECMO by Day 84 and discharged from the ECMO intensive care unit on Day 91.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohier Elneil
- University College London, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Jacob P. Lalezari
- Quest Clinical Research, 2300 Sutter Street, Suite #202 & 208, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
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12
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Khalil BA, Elemam NM, Maghazachi AA. Chemokines and chemokine receptors during COVID-19 infection. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:976-988. [PMID: 33558827 PMCID: PMC7859556 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are crucial inflammatory mediators needed during an immune response to clear pathogens. However, their excessive release is the main cause of hyperinflammation. In the recent COVID-19 outbreak, chemokines may be the direct cause of acute respiratory disease syndrome, a major complication leading to death in about 40% of severe cases. Several clinical investigations revealed that chemokines are directly involved in the different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we review the role of chemokines and their receptors in COVID-19 pathogenesis to better understand the disease immunopathology which may aid in developing possible therapeutic targets for the infection.
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Key Words
- AECs, airway epithelial cells
- AP-1, Activator Protein 1
- ARDS
- ARDS, acute respiratory disease syndrome
- BALF, bronchial alveolar lavage fluid
- CAP, community acquired pneumonia
- COVID-19
- CRS, cytokine releasing syndrome
- Chemokine Receptors
- Chemokines
- DCs, dendritic cells
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- GAGs, glycosaminoglycans
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- HRSV, human respiratory syncytial virus
- IFN, interferon
- IMM, inflammatory monocytes and macrophages
- IP-10, IFN-γ-inducible protein 10
- IRF, interferon regulatory factor
- Immunity
- MERS-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- NETs, neutrophil extracellular traps
- NF-κB, Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells
- NK cells, natural killer cells
- PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- PRR, pattern recognition receptors
- RSV, rous sarcoma virus
- SARS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- SARS-CoV-2
- TLR, toll like receptor
- TRIF, TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β
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Affiliation(s)
- Bariaa A. Khalil
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Noha Mousaad Elemam
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Azzam A. Maghazachi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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