Open AccessNeopterin: A Promising Candidate Biomarker for Severe COVID-19
Author(s) -
Wasihun Hailemichael,
Mulugeta Kiros,
Yibeltal Akelew,
Sisay Getu,
Andualem Henok
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of inflammation research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.656
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 1178-7031
DOI - 10.2147/jir.s290264
Subject(s) - neopterin , biomarker , immunology , macrophage activation syndrome , pathogenesis , medicine , disease , covid-19 , macrophage , inflammation , coronavirus , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , genetics , arthritis , in vitro
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has rapidly spread across the world since its first emergence in China in late 2019. It is a major public health concern with no effective treatct 3ments. The immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with an excessive inflammatory response. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is also associated with the severity of the disease in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Neopterin is a macrophage activation marker produced by monocytes and macrophages upon activation by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Neopterin is a well-established marker in a variety of diseases, and recent evidence indicates that it could be helpful in early prediction of the severity of COVID-19 disease and serve as a prognostic marker. Here, we outline the role of macrophage activation syndrome in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and suggest that neopterin could be used as a biomarker for progression of COVID-19.