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Queiroz MAF, Brito WRDS, Pereira KAS, Pereira LMS, Amoras EDSG, Lima SS, Santos EFD, Costa FPD, Sarges KMLD, Cantanhede MHD, Brito MTFMD, Silva ALSD, Leite MDM, Viana MDNDSDA, Rodrigues FBB, Silva RD, Viana GMR, Chaves TDSS, Veríssimo ADOL, Carvalho MDS, Henriques DF, Silva CPD, Nunes JAL, Costa IB, Cayres-Vallinoto IMV, Brasil-Costa I, Quaresma JAS, Falcão LFM, Santos EJMD, Vallinoto ACR. Severe COVID-19 and long COVID are associated with high expression of STING, cGAS and IFN-α. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4974. [PMID: 38424312 PMCID: PMC10904751 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55696-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The cGAS-STING pathway appears to contribute to dysregulated inflammation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, inflammatory factors related to long COVID are still being investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the association of cGAS and STING gene expression levels and plasma IFN-α, TNF-α and IL-6 levels with COVID-19 severity in acute infection and long COVID, based on analysis of blood samples from 148 individuals, 87 with acute COVID-19 and 61 in the post-COVID-19 period. Quantification of gene expression was performed by real-time PCR, and cytokine levels were quantified by ELISA and flow cytometry. In acute COVID-19, cGAS, STING, IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with severe disease than in those with nonsevere manifestations (p < 0.05). Long COVID was associated with elevated cGAS, STING and IFN-α levels (p < 0.05). Activation of the cGAS-STING pathway may contribute to an intense systemic inflammatory state in severe COVID-19 and, after infection resolution, induce an autoinflammatory disease in some tissues, resulting in long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.
| | - Wandrey Roberto Dos Santos Brito
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Keise Adrielle Santos Pereira
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Leonn Mendes Soares Pereira
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | - Sandra Souza Lima
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Erika Ferreira Dos Santos
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Flávia Póvoa da Costa
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Kevin Matheus Lima de Sarges
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Marcos Henrique Damasceno Cantanhede
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mauro de Meira Leite
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Maria de Nazaré do Socorro de Almeida Viana
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Brasil Barbosa Rodrigues
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Rosilene da Silva
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Giselle Maria Rachid Viana
- Laboratory of Basic Research On Malaria, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Tânia do Socorro Souza Chaves
- Laboratory of Basic Research On Malaria, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
- School of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | | | | | - Daniele Freitas Henriques
- Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Carla Pinheiro da Silva
- Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Juliana Abreu Lima Nunes
- Laboratory of Immunology, Section of Virology, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Iran Barros Costa
- Laboratory of Immunology, Section of Virology, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Virology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Strategic Health Inputs, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Izaura Maria Vieira Cayres-Vallinoto
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Igor Brasil-Costa
- Laboratory of Immunology, Section of Virology, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Virology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Strategic Health Inputs, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma
- Graduate Program in Virology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Strategic Health Inputs, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Ananindeua, Brazil
- Center of Biological and Health Sciences, University of the State of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo José Melo Dos Santos
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Antonio Carlos Rosário Vallinoto
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Virology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Department of Science, Technology, Innovation and Strategic Health Inputs, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Ananindeua, Brazil
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da Silva R, de Sarges KML, Cantanhede MHD, da Costa FP, Dos Santos EF, Rodrigues FBB, de Nazaré do Socorro de Almeida Viana M, de Meira Leite M, da Silva ALS, de Brito MTM, da Silva Torres MK, Queiroz MAF, Vallinoto IMVC, Henriques DF, Dos Santos CP, Viana GMR, Quaresma JAS, Falcão LFM, Vallinoto ACR, Dos Santos EJM. Thrombophilia and Immune-Related Genetic Markers in Long COVID. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040885. [PMID: 37112866 PMCID: PMC10143911 DOI: 10.3390/v15040885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aiming to evaluate the role of ten functional polymorphisms in long COVID, involved in major inflammatory, immune response and thrombophilia pathways, a cross-sectional sample composed of 199 long COVID (LC) patients and a cohort composed of 79 COVID-19 patients whose follow-up by over six months did not reveal any evidence of long COVID (NLC) were investigated to detect genetic susceptibility to long COVID. Ten functional polymorphisms located in thrombophilia-related and immune response genes were genotyped by real time PCR. In terms of clinical outcomes, LC patients presented higher prevalence of heart disease as preexistent comorbidity. In general, the proportions of symptoms in acute phase of the disease were higher among LC patients. The genotype AA of the interferon gamma (IFNG) gene was observed in higher frequency among LC patients (60%; p = 0.033). Moreover, the genotype CC of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was also more frequent among LC patients (49%; p = 0.045). Additionally, the frequencies of LC symptoms were higher among carriers of IFNG genotypes AA than among non-AA genotypes (Z = 5.08; p < 0.0001). Two polymorphisms were associated with LC in both inflammatory and thrombophilia pathways, thus reinforcing their role in LC. The higher frequencies of acute phase symptoms among LC and higher frequency of underlying comorbidities might suggest that acute disease severity and the triggering of preexisting condition may play a role in LC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosilene da Silva
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Kevin Matheus Lima de Sarges
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Marcos Henrique Damasceno Cantanhede
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Flávia Póvoa da Costa
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Erika Ferreira Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Brasil Barbosa Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Maria de Nazaré do Socorro de Almeida Viana
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Mauro de Meira Leite
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Andréa Luciana Soares da Silva
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Clinical Analysis, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Mioni Thieli Magalhães de Brito
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Clinical Analysis, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Karoliny da Silva Torres
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Izaura Maria Vieira Cayres Vallinoto
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Daniele Freitas Henriques
- Section of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Ananindeua 67000-000, Brazil
| | - Carla Pinheiro Dos Santos
- Section of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Ananindeua 67000-000, Brazil
| | - Giselle Maria Rachid Viana
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Malaria Basic Research Laboratory, Parasitology Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Health Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Ananindeua 67000-000, Brazil
| | - Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Antonio Carlos Rosário Vallinoto
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
| | - Eduardo José Melo Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Clinical Analysis, Federal University of Pará, Belém 58255-000, Brazil
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