COVID-19 Affects Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Neurofilament Light Chain in Aged Men: Implications for Morbidity and Mortality.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND METHODS:

Severe COVID-19 is known to induce neurological damage (NeuroCOVID), mostly in aged individuals, by affecting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 and the neurofilament light chain (NFL) pathways. Thus, the aim of this pilot study was to investigate BDNF, MMP-2, MMP-9, and NFL in the serum of aged men affected by COVID-19 at the beginning of the hospitalization period and characterized by different outcomes, i.e., attending a hospital ward or an intensive care unit (ICU) or with a fatal outcome. As a control group, we used a novelty of the study, unexposed age-matched men. We also correlated these findings with the routine blood parameters of the recruited individuals.

RESULTS:

We found in COVID-19 individuals with severe or lethal outcomes disrupted serum BDNF, NFL, and MMP-2 presence and gross changes in ALT, GGT, LDH, IL-6, ferritin, and CRP. We also confirmed and extended previous data, using ROC analyses, showing that the ratio MMPs (2 and 9) versus BDNF and NFL might be a useful tool to predict a fatal COVID-19 outcome.

CONCLUSIONS:

Serum BDNF and NFL and/or their ratios with MMP-2 and MMP-9 could represent early predictors of NeuroCOVID in aged men.

• Authors: Carla Petrella, Maria Antonella Zingaropoli, Flavio Maria Ceci, Patrizia Pasculli, Tiziana Latronico, Grazia Maria Liuzzi, Maria Rosa Ciardi, Antonio Angeloni, Evaristo Ettorre, Michela Menghi, Christian Barbato, Giampiero Ferraguti, Antonio Minni, Marco Fiore
• Journal: Cells (Cells) Vol. 12 Issue 4 (02 17 2023) ISSN: 2073-4409 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 36831321 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 2

Topics

• Male
• Humans
• Aged
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
• Intermediate Filaments
• Pilot Projects
• COVID-19
• Morbidity