Chemerin as a Potential Marker of Resolution of Inflammation in COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Chemerin is one of the specialized pro-resolving mediators that participate in the early phase of inflammation and contribute to the initiation of the pro-resolving response. There is a paucity of data regarding the time course of chemerin during acute infections. We aimed to evaluate the sequence of inflammatory responses in the acute COVID-19 phase throughout onset and resolution of inflammation. We evaluated changes in selected biomarkers in COVID-19 survivors on the 7-day and 28-day follow up. Chemerin was lower in patients with baseline moderate/severe disease at day 7 compared with asymptomatic patients and individuals with mild illness (7265 [5526–9448] vs. 8730 [6888–11,058] pg/mL; p = 0.03). Only in patients with moderate/severe disease, but not in those with mild symptoms, were chemerin concentrations decreased one week after infection onset compared with baseline (7265 [5526–9448] vs. 8866 [6383–10,690] pg/mL; p < 0.05) with a subsequent increase on the 28-day follow up (9313 [7353–11,033] pg/mL; p < 0.05). Resolution of inflammation in the group of moderate/severe SARS-CoV2 infection was associated with increasing serum concentrations of chemerin, contrary to pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines (pentraxin 3, TNFα, resistin, leptin). A similar pattern of angiopoietin-2 dynamics may suggest signs of enhanced vascularization as a consequence of acute SARS-CoV2 infection.

The Prognostic Value of Pentraxin-3 in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mortality Incidence

“…Furthermore, higher PTX3 plasma levels were found in 14 patients with subsequent thrombotic complications [ 36 ]. Sulicka-Grodzicka et al, in a manner consistent with previous work, found higher levels of PTX3 in severe COVID-19 patients than in non-severe COVID-19 [ 38 ]. The authors evaluated the sequence of inflammatory responses in acute COVID-19 through a 28-day follow-up, discovering that the resolution of inflammation in the group of moderate/severe SARS-CoV2 infection was associated with decreasing PTX3 serum concentrations [ 38 ].…”

“…Sulicka-Grodzicka et al, in a manner consistent with previous work, found higher levels of PTX3 in severe COVID-19 patients than in non-severe COVID-19 [ 38 ]. The authors evaluated the sequence of inflammatory responses in acute COVID-19 through a 28-day follow-up, discovering that the resolution of inflammation in the group of moderate/severe SARS-CoV2 infection was associated with decreasing PTX3 serum concentrations [ 38 ]. The authors performed a time course analysis of PTX3 on day 1, day 7, and day 28 after infection [ 38 ].…”

“…The authors evaluated the sequence of inflammatory responses in acute COVID-19 through a 28-day follow-up, discovering that the resolution of inflammation in the group of moderate/severe SARS-CoV2 infection was associated with decreasing PTX3 serum concentrations [ 38 ]. The authors performed a time course analysis of PTX3 on day 1, day 7, and day 28 after infection [ 38 ]. Their results revealed a constant and progressive decrease in PTX3 from day 1 to day 28 [ 38 ].…”

“…The authors performed a time course analysis of PTX3 on day 1, day 7, and day 28 after infection [ 38 ]. Their results revealed a constant and progressive decrease in PTX3 from day 1 to day 28 [ 38 ]. On other hand, analyzing inflammatory markers between non-severe COVID-19 and severe COVID-19, PTX3 was significant only on day 1, unlike TNFα and IL-1β, which were increased also 28 days post-infection [ 38 ].…”

Adipokines as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers for the Severity of COVID-19

“…In patients with moderate or severe acute infection, serum chemerin levels first decreased on Day 7 in comparison to the day of hospital admission and subsequently increased at the 28-day follow-up. As this profile of plasma chemerin levels was not observed in COVID-19 patients with mild disease over this 28-day period, it was suggested that serum chemerin levels are considered as a marker for the resolution of inflammation [63]. However, while randomized clinical trials proved that anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving corticosteroids can improve survival in severe COVID-19 [64], dexamethasone therapy did not affect plasma chemerin levels [62].…”