Human Leukocyte Transcriptional Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Vieira, Sandra Elisabete; Bando, Sílvia Yumi; Lauterbach, Gerhard da Paz; Moreira-Filho, Carlos Alberto

doi:10.6061/clinics/2020/e2078

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The study of the blood leukocyte transcriptional differences between mild and severe cases of COVID-19, as well as between age groups, brings a window of opportunity for: i) shedding light on the genomic mechanisms underlying the differences between classes of disease severity, as well as between age groups, through the comparative analysis of transcriptional modules; ii) finding, by means of differential gene expression and enrichment analyses, transcriptional biomarkers, i.e. genes, that are potential disease biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets [1,2]. Reaching of these goals is necessary for developing new therapies and better strategies for monitoring COVID-19 patients, which are demanded to avoid pressure on health systems now and in the immediate post-pandemic period (2023-2024), as shown by epidemiological studies [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood Leukocyte Transcriptional Modules and Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Disease Severity and Age in COVID-19 Patients

Bando¹,

Bertonha²,

Vieira³

et al. 2022

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The transcriptional response of human blood leukocytes to SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated focusing on the differences between mild and severe cases and between age subgroups. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and comparative gene expression analysis were used. Three transcriptional modules positively associated with the traits of interest and their respective high hierarchy genes were identified. Enrichment analyses showed that the yellow module, associated with severe cases and older patients, had an overrepresentation of genes involved in inflammatory and innate immune responses, and neutrophil activation. The magenta and black modules, associated with disease severity and younger patients, contained genes related to innate immunity and inflammation and genes that regulate those responses. Subnetworks for these modules were constructed using genes enriched for innate immunity, inflammation, immunoregulation and differentially expressed genes (severe vs. mild). Their analysis evidenced that immunoregulatory functions are more activated in the modules associated with younger patients, what may help to explain the better disease course and faster recovery observed in younger COVID-19 patients. Comparative gene expression analysis between severe and mild groups, followed by gene enrichment and normalized gene expression analyses, revelated a set of 23 potential biomarkers for COVID-19 severity, of which 13 are newly described.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%