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Anti-inflammatory adipokines: chemerin, vaspin, omentin concentrations and SARS-CoV-2 outcomes
Michał Kukla1,2, Tomasz Menżyk3, Marcin Dembiński2,4
1Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland.
Insights
COVID-19 patients showed lower levels of chemerin and omentin, adipokines involved in inflammation. These adipokine deficiencies did not correlate with disease severity, but elevated GGT activity predicted worse outcomes in COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to systemic inflammation.
- Adipokines, signaling proteins from adipose tissue, may influence COVID-19 pathogenesis and disease progression.
- Chemerin, omentin, and vaspin are adipokines with diverse biological activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate serum concentrations of chemerin, omentin, and vaspin in COVID-19 patients.
- To investigate the relationship between these adipokines and COVID-19 severity.
- To explore associations with metabolic abnormalities and liver dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 70 COVID-19 patients upon hospital admission and 20 healthy controls.
- Concentrations of chemerin, omentin, and vaspin were measured.
- COVID-19 severity was assessed based on pneumonia, dyspnea, and ICU admission. Liver function tests were performed.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly lower serum concentrations of chemerin and omentin compared to healthy controls.
- No correlation was found between adipokine levels and COVID-19 severity markers (pneumonia, dyspnea, ICU stay).
- Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity was associated with ICU admission, pneumonia, and higher levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, ferritin, IL-6).
Conclusions:
- The depletion of chemerin and omentin in COVID-19 patients suggests a potential role in disease pathogenesis.
- Adipokine levels did not correlate with the frequency of COVID-19 symptoms or overall disease severity.
- Elevated GGT activity emerged as a potential predictor of severe COVID-19, including pneumonia and ICU hospitalization.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with systemic inflammation. A wide range of adipokines activities suggests they influence pathogenesis and infection course. The aim was to assess concentrations of chemerin, omentin, and vaspin among COVID-19 patients with an emphasis on adipokines relationship with COVID-19 severity, concomitant metabolic abnormalities and liver dysfunction. Serum chemerin, omentin and vaspin concentrations were measured in serum collected from 70 COVID-19 patients at the moment of admission to hospital, before any treatment was applied and 20 healthy controls. Serum chemerin and omentin concentrations were significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy volunteers (271.0 vs. 373.0 ng/ml; p < 0.001 and 482.1 vs. 814.3 ng/ml; p = 0.01, respectively). There were no correlations of analyzed adipokines with COVID-19 severity based on the presence of pneumonia, dyspnea, or necessity of Intensive Care Unit hospitalization (ICU). Liver test abnormalities did not influence adipokines levels. Elevated GGT activity was associated with ICU admission, presence of pneumonia and elevated concentrations of CRP, ferritin and interleukin 6. Chemerin and omentin depletion in COVID-19 patients suggests that this adipokines deficiency play influential role in disease pathogenesis. However, there was no relationship between lower adipokines level and frequency of COVID-19 symptoms as well as disease severity. The only predictive factor which could predispose to a more severe COVID-19 course, including the presence of pneumonia and ICU hospitalization, was GGT activity.
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