Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 6, 2025

A Mouse Model of Hemorrhagic Transformation Induced by Acute Hyperglycemia Combined with Transient Focal Ischemia
09:35

A Mouse Model of Hemorrhagic Transformation Induced by Acute Hyperglycemia Combined with Transient Focal Ischemia

Published on: November 15, 2024

573

Hyperglycemia, Reduced Hematopoietic Stem Cells, and Outcome of COVID-19

Benedetta Maria Bonora1,2, Paola Fogar1, Jenny Zuin1

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.

Diabetes
|January 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients significantly reduces hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). This reduction in HSPCs partially explains why hyperglycemia predicts worse COVID-19 outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Admission hyperglycemia is a known predictor of poor COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Hyperglycemia is linked to defects in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), which can predict diabetic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if reduced HSPCs mediate the prognostic effect of hyperglycemia on COVID-19 outcomes.
  • To quantify the contribution of HSPC reduction to hyperglycemia's impact on COVID-19 prognosis.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry was used to measure HSPC levels (CD34+, CD34+CD45dim, CD34+CD133+) in COVID-19 patients and controls.
  • Statistical analyses included multivariable adjustment, 1:1 patient matching, and propensity score matching.
  • Mediation analysis was performed to assess the role of HSPCs in the hyperglycemia-COVID-19 outcome relationship.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 patients showed significantly reduced HSPC levels (50-60%) compared to controls.
  • Admission hyperglycemia was associated with a further ~30% reduction in HSPCs and a 2.6-fold increased risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Reduced HSPCs independently predicted a >3-fold higher risk of adverse outcomes and mediated 28% of the prognostic effect of admission hyperglycemia.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced circulating HSPCs are a significant finding in COVID-19 patients with hyperglycemia.
  • HSPC reduction is a key mechanism linking admission hyperglycemia to adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Targeting HSPC defects may offer a therapeutic strategy for improving COVID-19 prognosis in hyperglycemic patients.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays06:03

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays

Published on: September 20, 2024

1.4K
Measurement of Mitochondrial Mass and Membrane Potential in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and T-cells by Flow Cytometry07:57

Measurement of Mitochondrial Mass and Membrane Potential in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and T-cells by Flow Cytometry

Published on: December 26, 2019

12.4K

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells01:01

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
3.3K
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism01:19

Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
2.1K
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer01:19

Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer

Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
75
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
367
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
935
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
375