Association between volume of lung damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress expression among severe COVID-19 ICU patients

Domitille Renard ¹, Mikael Verdalle-Cazes ², Perrine Leprêtre ^1,3

⁰Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, CHU Rouen, Rouen, France.

Frontiers in Medicine +

|

June 27, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in severe COVID-19 patients is linked to lung damage volume (LDV). Systemic inflammation correlates with organ failure but not LDV, suggesting distinct pathways in COVID-19 severity.

Area Of Science

Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonology
Pathophysiology

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is linked to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS).
The interplay between ERS, inflammation, and organ damage in COVID-19 patients remains unclear.
Understanding these relationships is crucial for managing severe COVID-19 cases in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose Of The Study

To investigate the association between ERS and lung damage volume (LDV) in severe COVID-19 ICU patients.
To explore the relationship between systemic inflammation markers and organ failure.
To determine if ERS explains LDV in this patient cohort.

Main Methods

A single-center retrospective study analyzed severe COVID-19 ICU patients.
Chest computed tomography (CT) scans assessed LDV within 24 hours of admission.
Multivariate linear regression models identified factors associated with plasma levels of GRP78 (ERS marker) and IL-6 (inflammation marker).

Main Results

Plasma GRP78 levels, an ERS marker, were significantly associated with LDV (p=0.0179 and p=0.0423).
Plasma IL-6 levels, an inflammation marker, were associated with organ failure (SOFA score) (p<0.0001) but not LDV (p=0.3219).
No correlation was found between GRP78 and IL-6 plasma levels (p=0.3106).

Conclusions

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is associated with lung damage volume in severe COVID-19 patients.
Systemic inflammation is linked to organ failure but not directly to lung damage volume.
These findings suggest distinct pathophysiological roles for ERS and inflammation in COVID-19 severity.

Keywords:

COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome endoplasmic reticulum stress humans inflammation intensive care unit interleukin-6 organ failure