Metabolite signature of COVID-19 reveals multi-organ effects

Date:
September 9, 2020
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Researchers compared lipoproteins and metabolites in the blood
of COVID- 19 patients and healthy subjects, revealing signs of
multi-organ damage in patients that could someday help diagnose
and treat COVID-19.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can cause a wide range
of symptoms, from none at all to severe respiratory stress, multi-organ
failure and death. The virus notably targets the lungs, but many patients
also experience non-respiratory symptoms. Now, researchers reporting in
ACS' Journal of Proteome Research compared lipoproteins and metabolites
in the blood of COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects, revealing signs
of multi-organ damage in patients that could someday help diagnose and
treat COVID-19.


========================================================================== Current diagnostic tests for COVID-19 rely on the detection of viral
RNA or antibodies against the virus. Both types of tests are prone to false-negative results, as well as having other limitations. Another
possible way of detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection could involve analyzing metabolic changes the virus causes in an infected person. Jeremy
Nicholson, Elaine Holmes and colleagues wanted to analyze the systemic
effects of the disease and determine whether there is a general metabolic signature of COVID-19.

The researchers collected blood samples from 17 patients who tested
positive for COVID-19 with current assays and from 25 healthy age-,
sex- and body mass index-matched controls who were proven negative for
current or prior SARS-CoV- 2 infection with an antibody test. Then, the
team analyzed the plasma lipoprotein, metabolite and amino acid levels
in blood plasma with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Through multivariate statistical analyses that detected differences
between patients and controls, the researchers revealed a metabolic
signature of SARS- CoV-2 infection involving signs of acute inflammation,
liver dysfunction, diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk. The team is
now validating the data in a much larger group of patients. In addition
to possibly being used to develop a metabolite-based diagnostic test,
these results suggest that recovered COVID-19 patients should be evaluated
for increased risks for other conditions, the researchers say.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Spinnaker Health Research
Foundation, the McCusker Charitable Foundation, the Western Australian
State Government, the Australian Government Department of Health
Medical Research Future Fund, the U.K. Medical Research Council, and
the Australian Research Council.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Torben Kimhofer, Samantha Lodge, Luke Whiley, Nicola Gray, Ruey
Leng Loo,
Nathan G. Lawler, Philipp Nitschke, Sze-How Bong, David L. Morrison,
Sofina Begum, Toby Richards, Bu B. Yeap, Chris Smith, Kenneth
C.G. Smith, Elaine Holmes, Jeremy K. Nicholson. Integrative
Modelling of Quantitative Plasma Lipoprotein, Metabolic and
Amino Acid Data Reveals a Multi-organ Pathological Signature of
SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Journal of Proteome Research, 2020; DOI:
10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00519 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200909114808.htm

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