Abstract
Background: Coronavirus-19 is still considered a pandemic that influences the world. Other molecular alterations should be clearer besides the increasing cytokine storm and pro-inflammatory molecules. Hypoxic conditions that induce HIF-1α lead to stimulate gene expression of STC-2 that targets PAPP-A expression. This study aimed to determine gene expression levels of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α in COVID-19 infection. We also aimed to reveal the relationship of these genes with laboratory and clinical data of COVID-19 patients.
Materials and results: We extracted RNA from peripheral blood samples of COVID-19(+) and COVID-19(-) individuals. The real-time PCR method was used to measure mRNA expression of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α. Gene expression analysis was evaluated by the 2 -ΔΔCt method. PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α mRNA expressions of severe patients were higher than healthy individuals (p = 0.0451, p = 0.4466, p < 0.0001, respectively). Correlation analysis of gene expression patterns of severe patients demonstrated a positive correlation between PAPP-A and STC-2 (p < 0.0001, r = 0.8638).
Conclusion: This is the first study that investigates the relation of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α gene expression in patients with COVID-19 infection. Besides the routine laboratory findings, PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α mRNA expressions may be considered to patients’ prognosis as a sign of increased cytokines and pro-inflammatory molecules.
Keywords: COVID-19; HIF-1α; PAPP-A; SARS-CoV-2; STC-2.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, HIF-1α, STC-2., PAPP-A, 【초록키워드】 Cytokine storm, pandemic, Gene Expression, Prognosis, Infection, cytokine, Laboratory, Peripheral blood, COVID-19 infection, Real-time PCR, Patient, target, Severe patient, molecular, Other, expression, COVID-19 patients, Analysis, Clinical data, alteration, positive correlation, pro-inflammatory molecules, material, extracted RNA, mRNA expression, was used, evaluated, condition, determine, demonstrated, induce, individuals, stimulate, healthy individual, influence, gene expression level, gene expression pattern, patients with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 infected patient, gene expression level,