The assessment of the serum levels of TWEAK and prostaglandin F2α in COVID – 19

• Published in: Turkish journal of medical sciences Vol. 50; no. 8; pp. 1786 - 1791
• Main Authors: Yalçın Kehribar, Demet, Cihangiroğlu, Mustafa, Sehmen, Emine, Avcı, Bahattin, Çapraz, Mustafa, Boran, Maruf, Günaydin, Caner, Özgen, Metin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey 17.12.2020
• Subjects: Correlation of Data; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - immunology; Cytokine TWEAK - blood; Dinoprost - blood; Female; Humans; Leukotriene E4 - blood; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Signal Transduction - immunology; TWEAK Receptor - metabolism; COVID - 19; TWEAK; inflammation; prostaglandin; leukotrienes
• DOI: 10.3906/sag-2006-96
• ISSN: 1300-0144

It is claimed that aberrant immune response has a more important role than the cytopathic effect of the virus in the morbidity and mortality of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the possible roles of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/Fn14 pathway and leukotrienes (LT) in uncontrolled immune response that occurs in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study included 25 asymptomatic patients and 35 patients with lung involvement who were diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as 22 healthy volunteers. Lung involvement was determined using computed-tomography. Serum TWEAK, LTE4, and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) levels were determined. Compared with the healthy control group, TWEAK, LTE4, and PGF2α levels were higher in the group of SARS-CoV-2 infection without lung involvement. In the group of SARS-CoV-2 infection with lung involvement, age, fibrinogen, sedimentation, C-reactive protein and ferritin, TWEAK, LTE4, and PGF2α levels were higher, and lymphocyte levels were lower compared with the asymptomatic group. In the study, TWEAK and LTE4 levels increased in cases with COVID-19. These results support that TWEAK/Fn14 pathway and LT may involved in the pathology of aberrant immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Inhibition of each of these pathways may be a potential target in the treatment of COVID-19.