Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in COVID-19 patients: relation to platelets and association with the disease outcome

• Published in: Molecular and cellular biochemistry Vol. 478; no. 11; pp. 2461 - 2471
• Main Authors: Zivancevic-Simonovic, Snezana, Minic, Rajna, Cupurdija, Vojislav, Stanojevic-Pirkovic, Marijana, Milosevic-Djordjevic, Olivera, Jakovljevic, Vladimir, Mihaljevic, Olgica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.11.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blood; Blood platelets; Cancer Research; Cardiology; Correlation; COVID-19; Cytokines; Disease control; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Growth factors; Hematology; Leukocytes; Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Medical Biochemistry; Medical examination; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Parameters; Pathogenesis; Platelets; Population studies; Serum levels; Thromboplastin; Transforming growth factor-b; Transforming growth factor-b1; Transforming growth factors; COVID-19; Pneumonia; Transforming growth factor beta; Platelets; Disease outcome
• ISSN: 0300-8177; 1573-4919; 1573-4919
• DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04674-7

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β ) is a ubiquitously distributed cytokine known to contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous pathological processes. The aim of this study was to measure serum concentrations of TGF- β 1 in severely ill COVID-19 patients and to analyze its relationship with selected hematological and biochemical parameters and with the disease outcome. The study population included 53 COVID-19 patients with severe clinical expression of the disease and 15 control subjects. TGF- β 1 was determined in serum samples and supernatants from PHA-stimulated whole blood cultures using ELISA assay. Biochemical and hematological parameters were analyzed using standard accepted methods. Our results showed that serum levels of TGF- β 1 in COVID-19 patients and controls correlate with the platelet counts. Also, positive correlations of TGF- β 1 with white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratio, and fibrinogen level were shown, while negative correlations of this cytokine with platelet distribution width (PDW), D-dimer and activated partial thromboplastin time ( a -PTT) values in COVID-19 patients were observed. The lower serum values of TGF- β 1 were associated with the unfavorable outcome of COVID-19. In conclusion, TGF- β 1 levels were strongly associated with platelet counts and unfavorable disease outcome of severely ill COVID-19 patients.