Circulating furin, IL-6, and presepsin levels and disease severity in SARS-CoV-2–infected patients

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a vast number of infections and deaths that deeply affect the world. When the virus encounters the host cell, it binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, then the S protein of the virus is broken down by the transmembrane protease serine 2 with the help of furin, allowing the virus to enter the cell. The elevated inflammatory cytokines suggest that a cytokine storm, also known as cytokine release syndrome, may play a major role in the pathology of COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between circulating furin levels, disease severity, and inflammation in patients with SARS-CoV-2. A total of 52 SARS-CoV-2 patients and 36 healthy control participants were included in this study. SARS- CoV-2 patients were scored by the disease activity score. Serum furin, presepsin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean furin, presepsin, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the peripheral blood of SARS-CoV-2 compared to the controls ( p < 0.001). There were close positive relationship between serum furin and IL-6, furin and presepsin, and furin and disease severity ( r = 0.793, p < 0001; r = 0.521, p < 0.001; and r = 0,533, p < 0.001, respectively) in patients with SARS-CoV-2. These results suggest that furin may contribute to the exacerbation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and increased inflammation, and could be used as a predictor of disease severity in COVID-19 patients.

Prognostic Utility of Procalcitonin, Presepsin, and the VACO Index for Predicting 30-day Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

“…Kocyigit, et al . [ 24 ] reported that presepsin and IL-6 levels significantly increased according to COVID-19 disease severity and positively correlated with each other and COVID-19 disease severity. Zaninotto, et al .…”

“…Increased PCT levels may be associated with disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients [ 11 - 13 , 17 - 20 ]. Presepsin, a 13-kDa glycoprotein cleavage N-terminal fragment of CD14, is released into circulation by pro-inflammatory signals during infection and has diagnostic and prognostic values in sepsis [ 21 - 24 ]. In COVID-19, presepsin was suggested as a predictive biomarker for disease severity [ 24 - 26 ].…”

Predictive Values of Procalcitonin and Presepsin for Acute Kidney Injury and 30-Day Hospital Mortality in Patients with COVID-19

“…Several recent studies have shown that PSS is a useful biomarker for assessing the severity and predicting mortality in patients with COVID-19. In a study by Kocyigit et al [27], PSS levels were significantly increased in the severe group compared with the mild and moderate groups of patients with COVID-19. In accordance with our findings, previous studies found that the PSS levels were significantly elevated in nonsurvivors than in survivors [16,28].…”

Can Epigenetics Help Solve the Puzzle Between Concomitant Cardiovascular Injury and Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019?

“…77 Nevertheless, high circulating levels of furin have been reported in COVID-19 patients, a critical factor that determines disease severity and cardiovascular adverse events. 79 Furthermore, elevated levels of furin were also reported in peripheral blood of HF patients. 80 Hence, furin inhibition might reduce viral load and cardiovascular damage in COVID-19 patients.…”