Individuals with isolated congenital GH deficiency due to a GHRH receptor gene mutation appear to cope better with SARS-CoV-2 infection than controls

Abstract

Purpose Several interactions exist between the GH/IGF axis and the immune system, including effects on innate immunity and humoral and cellular response. Acquired GH deficiency (GHD) has been recently proposed as a risk factor for severity of COVID-19 infections. However, acquired GHD is often associated to other factors, including pituitary tumors, surgery, radiotherapy, and additional pituitary hormones deficits and their replacements, which, together, may hinder an accurate analysis of the relationship between GHD and COVID-19. Therefore, we decided to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the frequency of symptomatic cases of COVID-19 in adults subjects with untreated isolated GHD (IGHD) due to a homozygous null mutation in the GHRH receptor gene. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in 27 adult IGHD subjects and 27 age- and gender-matched local controls. Interview, physical examination, bio-impedance, hematological and SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were analyzed. Results There was no difference in the prevalence of positivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies between the two groups. Conversely, no IGHD individual had a previous clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, while 6 control subjects did ( p = 0.023). Conclusion The production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was similar between IGHD subjects due to a GHRH receptor gene mutation and controls, but the evolution to symptomatic stages of the infection and the frequency of confirmed cases was lower in IGHD subjects than in GH sufficient individuals.

The state of Sergipe contribution to GH research: from Souza Leite to Itabaianinha syndrome

“…The apparently normal immune function suggests that many immune cells use extrapituitary circuits (local GH/IGFs), independent from the somatotrophic axis. We also found that macrophages from IGHD subjects are less prone to Leishmania amazonensis infection than GH-sufficient controls (73) and that they appear to cope better with SARS-CoV-2 infection than controls (74). Resistance to Leishamnia infection may be one of the reasons for the spread of this mutation in the Itabaianinha region.…”

Cognitive performance during senescence in untreated congenital isolated GH deficiency

“…Such effect is unlikely, as cognitive function, assessed after the end of the pandemic in Brazil, was excellent in both groups. Furthermore, we have previously shown no difference in the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibody positivity between IGHD subjects and matched normal stature individuals in October 2020, during the acceleration of the pandemic ( 53 ). The relatively low number of subjects is a limitation of the present study.…”

Literature-Based Discovery to Elucidate the Biological Links between Resistant Hypertension and COVID-19

“…Somatropin hormone, thyrotropin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and corticotropin-releasing hormone and others impact the RAAS pathway via angiotensin II to modulate blood pressure [ 74 ]. Individuals with isolated congenital GH deficiency due to a GHRH receptor gene mutation appear to cope better with SARS-CoV-2 infection than controls [ 75 ]. Likewise, somatotropin-releasing hormone has been shown to be highly correlated to COVID-19.…”