1. Identification of biomarkers for COVID-19 associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
- Author
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Canny SP, Stanaway IB, Holton SE, Mitchem M, O'Rourke AR, Pribitzer S, Baxter SK, Wurfel MM, Malhotra U, Buckner JH, Bhatraju PK, Morrell ED, Speake C, Mikacenic C, and Hamerman JA
- Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to define and validate novel biomarkers that could identify individuals with COVID-19 associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) and to test whether fatalities due to COVID-19 in the presence of sHLH were associated with specific defects in the immune system., Design: In two cohorts of adult patients presenting with COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, clinical lab values and serum proteomics were assessed. Subjects identified as having sHLH were compared to those with COVID-19 without sHLH. Eight deceased patients defined as COVID-sHLH underwent genomic sequencing in order to identify variants in immune-related genes., Setting: Two tertiary care hospitals in Seattle, Washington (Virginia Mason Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center)., Patients: 186 patients with COVID-19., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Nine percent of enrolled COVID-19 subjects met our defined criteria for sHLH. Using broad serum proteomic approaches (O-link and SomaScan), we identified three biomarkers for COVID-19 associated sHLH (soluble PD-L1, TNF-R1, and IL-18BP), supporting a role for proteins previously associated with other forms of sHLH (IL-18BP and sTNF-R1). We also identified novel biomarkers and pathways of COVID-sHLH, including sPD-L1 and the syntaxin pathway. We detected variants in several genes involved in immune responses in individuals with COVID-sHLH, including in DOCK8 and in TMPRSS15 , suggesting that genetic alterations in immune-related genes may contribute to hyperinflammation and fatal outcomes in COVID-19., Conclusions: Biomarkers of COVID-19 associated sHLH, such as soluble PD-L1, and pathways, such as the syntaxin pathway, and variants in immune genes in these individuals, suggest critical roles for the immune response in driving sHLH in the context of COVID-19.
- Published
- 2024
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