Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
Evaluation of LC3-II Release via Extracellular Vesicles in Relation to the Accumulation of Intracellular LC3-positive Vesicles
Published on: October 18, 2024
Decrease in serum levels of autotaxin in COVID-19 patients
Takuya Shimura1, Makoto Kurano1,2, Koh Okamoto3
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Introduction:
In order to identify therapeutic targets in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is important to identify molecules involved in the biological responses that are modulated in COVID-19. Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are involved in the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis are one of the candidate molecules. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the serum levels of autotaxin (ATX), which are enzymes involved in the synthesis of lysophosphatidic acids.
Material And Methods:
We enrolled 134 subjects with COVID-19 and 58 normal healthy subjects for the study. We measured serum ATX levels longitudinally in COVID-19 patients and investigated the time course and the association with severity and clinical parameters.
Results:
The serum ATX levels were reduced in all patients with COVID-19, irrespective of the disease severity, and were negatively associated with the serum CRP, D-dimer, and anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody levels.
Discussion:
Considering the biological properties of LPAs in the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, modulation of ATX might be compensatory biological responses to suppress immunological overreaction especially in the lung, which is an important underlying mechanism for the mortality of the disease.
Conclusions:
COVID-19 patients showed a decrease in the serum levels of ATX, irrespective of the disease severity. Key MessagesAutotaxin (ATX) is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which has been reported to be involved in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Patients with COVID-19 show decrease in the serum levels of ATX. Modulation of ATX might be compensatory biological responses to suppress immunological overreaction.
Insights
Serum levels of autotaxin (ATX), an enzyme linked to pulmonary inflammation in COVID-19, were found to be decreased in patients. This reduction may represent a compensatory response to suppress the overactive immune response characteristic of the disease.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) are implicated in pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.
- Autotaxin (ATX) is a key enzyme in LPA synthesis.
- Understanding molecular responses in COVID-19 is crucial for identifying therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between serum autotaxin (ATX) levels and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- To investigate the time course of ATX levels in relation to disease severity and clinical parameters.
Main Methods:
- 134 COVID-19 patients and 58 healthy controls were enrolled.
- Serum ATX levels were measured longitudinally.
- Associations with disease severity and clinical markers were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Serum ATX levels were reduced in all COVID-19 patients, regardless of severity.
- Decreased ATX levels showed a negative association with C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 is associated with decreased serum ATX levels.
- ATX modulation may be a compensatory mechanism to mitigate excessive immune responses in the lungs.
- This finding offers insights into the biological mechanisms underlying COVID-19 severity and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune...
01:20Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which...