TGF Beta as a Prognostic Biomarker of COVID-19 Severity in Patients with NAFLD: A Prospective Case – Control Study

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Frano Šušak
• Author: Nina Vrsaljko
• Author: Adriana Vince
• Author: Neven Papić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Infectious Diseases)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Infectology

Abstract (english)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the leading cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries, has been identified as a possible risk factor for COVID-19 severity. However, the immunological mechanisms by which NAFLD exacerbates COVID-19 remain unknown. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) has an important immunomodulatory and pro-fibrotic role, which has already been described in NAFLD. However, the role of TGF-β1 in COVID-19 remains unclear, and could also be the pathophysiology link between these two conditions. The aim of this case–control study was to analyze the expression of TGF-β1 in COVID-19 patients depending on the presence of NAFLD and COVID-19 severity. Serum TGF-β1 concentrations were measured in 60 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (30 with NAFLD). NAFLD was associated with higher serum TGF-β1 concentrations that increased with disease severity. Admission TGF-β1 concentrations showed good discriminative accuracy in predicting the development of critical disease and COVID-19 complications (need for advanced respiratory support, ICU admission, time to recovery, development of nosocomial infections and mortality). In conclusion, TGF-β1 could be an efficient biomarker for predicting COVID-19 severity and adverse outcomes in patients with NAFLD.

• Keywords (english): COVID-19; NAFLD; SARS-CoV-2; TGF-β1; cytokines; inflammation; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Microorganisms
• Numbering: vol. 11, no. 6, 1571
• e-ISSN: 2076-2607
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061571
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:219307
• Publication: 2023-06-13
• Project: Number: UIP-2019-04-7194; Title (croatian): Uloga imunih semaforina u nealkoholnoj masnoj bolesti jetre i sepsi; Title (english): The role of immune semaphorins in NAFLD and sepsis; Acronym: SepsisFAT; Leader: Neven Papić; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funding stream: UIP
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/6/1571
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-09-18 09:29:00