Major trace elements and their binding proteins in the early phase of Covid-19 infection

Abstract

Metal ions seem to play important roles in the pathogenesis of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 and are under investigation as potential prognostic markers and supplements in therapeutic procedures. The present study was aimed at assessing the relationship between the most abundant essential microelements (iron, zinc and copper) and their major binding proteins in the circulation in the early stage of infection. The concentration of zinc ions was measured to be higher in infected than in healthy persons, as well as ratios zinc/albumin and zinc/alpha-2-macroglobulin. Increased zinc levels could be attributed to cellular redistribution of zinc ions or to a use of zinc supplementation (zinc concentration was above the upper reference limit in one-third of infected individuals). Immunoblot analysis of protein molecular forms revealed that infected persons had greater amounts of proteinase-bound alpha-2-macroglobulin tetramer and albumin monomer than healthy individuals. The quantities of these forms were correlated with the concentration of zinc ions (r = 0.42 and 0.55, respectively) in healthy persons, but correlations were lost in infected individuals, most likely due to very high zinc concentrations in some participants which were not proportionally followed by changes in the distribution of protein species. Although we still have to wait for a firm confirmation of the involvement of zinc in beneficial defense mechanisms in patients with Covid-19, it seems that this ion may contribute to the existence of circulating protein forms which are the most optimal.

Identifying and profiling structural similarities between Spike of SARS-CoV-2 and other viral or host proteins with Machaon

“…Regarding the results of the AlphaFoldDB dataset, macrophage mannose receptor 1 (MRC1) 48 , Thyroglobulin (TG) 49 , contactin-associated protein-like 3 (CTNNAP3) 50 , Hypoxia up-regulated protein 1 (HYOU1) 51 are top entries with reported relationships to the virus. The method again ranks members of alpha-2-macroglobulin/complement 3 protein family (A2M/C3) 52 in high order: pregnancy zone protein (PZP) 53 , CD109 antigen and Alpha-2-macroglobulin 54 , which appears in the results of both human protein datasets. The selected candidates from these datasets share similarities in protein 2D/3D/chemical structure and transcript sequence, as observed in the results of the viral dataset (Supplementary Figs.…”

The Roles and Pathogenesis Mechanisms of a Number of Micronutrients in the Prevention and/or Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis, COVID-19 and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Although the plasma concentrations of these trace elements were shown to change during the majority of infections, it is still unclear whether the infected tissues (i.e., the liver) experience the same alteration [65]. It is believed that the activity of HBV is altered by the change of the serum levels of these major trace elements [19]. However, the variation of plasma levels of trace elements in viral infections and their effect on creating a tissue injury is still unknown [3].…”

“…Studies have been recently conducted and indicated the benefits of using micronutrients as a natural approach to manage the infectious diseases that affect the respiratory system [18][19][20][21]. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has a high mortality rate, particularly in critically ill patients [12], many studies have been conducted to distinguish the different clinical symptoms; however, the data concerning its pathology as well as the cellular responses to this virus are still limited [22].…”

Circulating trace elements status in COVID-19 disease: A meta-analysis

“…Deficiency of trace elements could affect innate and adaptive immune response, which predisposes to infections and further aggravates malnutrition (11). At present, there are also a number of studies and reviews highlighting a potentially important roles of trace elements in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and investigating the possibility of utilization of trace elements in diagnosis, prognosis and supplements in therapeutic procedures (12)(13)(14).…”