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Blood molecular markers associated with COVID‐19 immunopathology and multi‐organ damage
Author(s) -
Chen YanMei,
Zheng Yuanting,
Yu Ying,
Wang Yunzhi,
Huang Qingxia,
Qian Feng,
Sun Lei,
Song ZhiGang,
Chen Ziyin,
Feng Jinwen,
An Yanpeng,
Yang Jingcheng,
Su Zhenqiang,
Sun Shanyue,
Dai Fahui,
Chen Qinsheng,
Lu Qinwei,
Li Pengcheng,
Ling Yun,
Yang Zhong,
Tang Huiru,
Shi Leming,
Jin Li,
Holmes Edward C,
Ding Chen,
Zhu TongYu,
Zhang YongZhen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2020105896
Subject(s) - pathophysiology , immune system , transcriptome , immunology , disease , biology , immunopathology , proteomics , biomarker , metabolomics , medicine , gene , bioinformatics , gene expression , pathology , genetics , endocrinology
Abstract COVID‐19 is characterized by dysregulated immune responses, metabolic dysfunction and adverse effects on the function of multiple organs. To understand host responses to COVID‐19 pathophysiology, we combined transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to identify molecular markers in peripheral blood and plasma samples of 66 COVID‐19‐infected patients experiencing a range of disease severities and 17 healthy controls. A large number of expressed genes, proteins, metabolites, and extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) exhibit strong associations with various clinical parameters. Multiple sets of tissue‐specific proteins and exRNAs varied significantly in both mild and severe patients suggesting a potential impact on tissue function. Chronic activation of neutrophils, IFN‐I signaling, and a high level of inflammatory cytokines were observed in patients with severe disease progression. In contrast, COVID‐19‐infected patients experiencing milder disease symptoms showed robust T‐cell responses. Finally, we identified genes, proteins, and exRNAs as potential biomarkers that might assist in predicting the prognosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. These data refine our understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical progress of COVID‐19.