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Objective. Aminothiols (glutathione (GSH), cysteinylglycine (CG)) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the possible association of these indicators with the severity of COVID-19 has not yet been investigated. Methods. The total content ( t ) and reduced forms ( r ) of aminothiols were determined in patients with COVID-19 ( n = 59 ) on admission. Lung injury was characterized by computed tomography (CT) findings in accordance with the CT0-4 classification. Results. Low tGSH level was associated with the risk of severe COVID-19 ( tGSH ≤ 1.5   μ M , mild vs. moderate/severe: risk   ratio   RR = 3.09 , p = 0.007 ) and degree of lung damage ( tGSH ≤ 1.8   μ M , CT < 2 vs. CT ≥ 2 : RR = 2.14 , p = 0.0094 ). The rGSH level showed a negative association with D-dimer levels ( ρ = − 0.599 , p = 0.014 ). Low rCG level was also associated with the risk of lung damage ( rCG ≤ 1.3   μ M , CT < 2 vs. CT ≥ 2 : RR = 2.28 , p = 0.001 ). Levels of rCG ( ρ = − 0.339 , p = 0.012 ) and especially tCG ( ρ = − 0.551 , p = 0.004 ) were negatively associated with platelet count. In addition, a significant relationship was found between the advanced oxidation protein product level and tGSH in patients with moderate or severe but not in patients with mild COVID-19. Conclusion. Thus, tGSH and rCG can be seen as potential markers for the risk of severe COVID-19. GSH appears to be an important factor to oxidative damage prevention as infection progresses. This suggests the potential clinical efficacy of correcting glutathione metabolism as an adjunct therapy for COVID-19.

CD8+ T-lymphocytes play a key role in antitumor immune response. Patients with lung cancer often suffer from T-lymphocyte dysfunction and low T-cell counts. The exhaustion of effector T-lymphocytes largely limits the effectiveness of therapy. In this study, reprogrammed T-lymphocytes used MEK inhibitors and PD-1 blockers to increase their antitumor activity. Antitumor effects of reprogrammed T-lymphocytes were shown in vitro and in vivo in the Lewis lung carcinoma model. The population of T- lymphocytes with persistent expression of CCR7 was formed as a result of reprogramming. Reprogrammed T-lymphocytes were resistant to apoptosis and characterized by high cytotoxicity against Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells in vitro. Administration of reprogrammed T-lymphocytes to C57BL/6 mice with LLC reduced the number of lung metastases. The antitumor effect resulted from the elimination of tumor cells and cancer stem cells, and the effect of therapy on cytotoxic T-lymphocyte counts. Thus, reprogramming of T-lymphocytes using MEK inhibitors is a promising approach for targeted therapy of lung cancer.

Objective. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) are indicators of global transmethylation and may play an important role as markers of severity of COVID-19. Methods. The levels of plasma SAM and SAH were determined in patients admitted with COVID-19 ( n = 56 , mean   age = 61 ). Lung injury was identified by computed tomography (CT) in accordance with the CT0-4 classification. Results. SAM was found to be a potential marker of lung damage risk in COVID-19 patients ( SAM > 80   nM ; CT3,4 vs. CT 0-2: relative ratio (RR) was 3.0; p = 0.0029 ). SAM / SAH > 6.0 was also found to be a marker of lung injury (CT2-4 vs. CT0,1: RR = 3.47 , p = 0.0004 ). There was a negative association between SAM and glutathione level ( ρ = − 0.343 , p = 0.011 ). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were associated with SAM ( ρ = 0.44 , p = 0.01 ) and SAH ( ρ = 0.534 , p = 0.001 ) levels. Conclusions. A high SAM level and high methylation index are associated with the risk of lung injury in patients with COVID-19. The association of SAM with IL-6 and glutathione indicates an important role of transmethylation in the development of cytokine imbalance and oxidative stress in patients with COVID-19.