학술논문

The Relationship between Nrf2 and HO-1 with the Severity of COVID-19 Disease
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Medicina. November 2022, Vol. 58 Issue 11
Subject
Croatia
Illinois
Language
English
ISSN
1648-9144
Abstract
Author(s): Damir Mihić [1,2]; Domagoj Loinjak [1,2]; Lana Maričić (corresponding author) [1,3,*]; Robert Smolić [4]; Ines Šahinović [1,5]; Kristina Steiner [6]; Sven Viland [1]; Vatroslav Šerić [1,5]; Mario Duvnjak [1,7] [...]
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) have significant roles in the development of a hyperinflammatory state in infectious diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of the serum concentrations of Nrf2 and HO-1 with the severity of COVID-19 disease. The study included 40 subjects with mild and moderately severe forms of the disease (MEWS scoring system ≤2). Twenty of the subjects had MEWS scores of 3 or 4, which indicate a severe form of the disease, and twenty subjects had a MEWS score of ≥5, which indicates a critical form of the disease. HO-1 and Nrf2 were measured using the commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Subjects with the most severe form of COVID-19 (critically ill) had a lower concentration of Nrf2 that negatively correlated with the markers of hyperinflammatory response (CRP, IL-6, ferritin). This observation was not made for HO-1, and the correlation between Nrf2 and HO-1 values was not established. In the mild/moderate form of COVID-19 disease, Nrf2 was associated with an increased 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D concentration. The results of this study show that Nrf2 has a role in the body’s anti-inflammatory response to COVID-19 disease, which makes it a potential therapeutic target.