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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
The Isolation and Characterization of Low- and Normal- Density Neutrophils from Whole Blood
Published on: February 7, 2025
Neutrophil degranulation, endothelial and metabolic dysfunction in unvaccinated long COVID patients
Agostino Di Ciaula1, Luca Liberale2,3, Piero Portincasa1
1Clinica Medica "A. Murri", Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Preventive and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePrev-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Background:
Long COVID symptoms are widely diffused and have a poorly understood pathophysiology, with possible involvement of inflammatory cytokines.
Materials And Methods:
A prospective follow-up study involved 385 unvaccinated patients, started 1 month after SARS-CoV-2 infection and continued for up to 12 months. We compared circulating biomarkers of neutrophil degranulation, endothelial and metabolic dysfunction in subjects with long COVID symptoms and in asymptomatic post-COVID controls.
Results:
The highest occurrence of symptoms (71%) was after 3 months from the infection, decreasing to 62.3% and 29.4% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Compared to controls, long COVID patients had increased levels of the neutrophilic degranulation indices MMP-8 and MPO, of endothelial dysfunction indices L-selectin and P-selectin. Among indices of metabolic dysfunction, leptin levels were higher in long COVID patients than in controls.
Conclusion:
In unvaccinated patients, symptoms may persist up to 1 year after acute COVID infection, with increased indices of neutrophil degranulation, endothelial and metabolic dysfunction. The clinical implications of specific inflammatory biomarkers require further attention, especially in individuals with fatigue and long COVID-linked cognitive dysfunctions.
