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SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by several clinical manifestations, ranging from the absence of symptoms to severe forms that necessitate intensive care treatment. It is known that the patients with the highest rate of mortality develop increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, called the "cytokine storm", which is similar to inflammatory processes that occur in cancer. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 infection induces modifications in host metabolism leading to metabolic reprogramming, which is closely linked to metabolic changes in cancer. A better understanding of the correlation between perturbed metabolism and inflammatory responses is necessary. We evaluated untargeted plasma metabolomics and cytokine profiling via 1H-NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) and multiplex Luminex assay, respectively, in a training set of a limited number of patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection classified on the basis of their outcome. Univariate analysis and Kaplan–Meier curves related to hospitalization time showed that lower levels of several metabolites and cytokines/growth factors, correlated with a good outcome in these patients and these data were confirmed in a validation set of patients with similar characteristics. However, after the multivariate analysis, only the growth factor HGF, lactate and phenylalanine retained a significant prediction of survival. Finally, the combined analysis of lactate and phenylalanine levels correctly predicted the outcome of 83.3% of patients in both the training and the validation set. We highlighted that the cytokines and metabolites involved in COVID-19 patients' poor outcomes are similar to those responsible for cancer development and progression, suggesting the possibility of targeting them by repurposing anticancer drugs as a therapeutic strategy against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical conditions caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. More severe cases experience acute respiratory and/or multiorgan failure. KL-6 is a glycoprotein expressed mainly from type II alveolar cells with pro-fibrotic properties. Serum KL-6 concentrations have been found in patients with COVID-19. However, the relevance of KL-6 in patients with severe and critical COVID-19 has not been fully elucidated. Methods: Retrospective data from consecutive severe to critical COVID-19 patients were collected at UOC Clinica Pnuemologica "Vanvitelli", A.O. dei Colli, Naples, Italy. The study included patients with a positive rhinopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 RNA with severe or critical COVID-19. Results: Among 87 patients, 24 had poor outcomes. The median KL-6 value in survivors was significantly lower when compared with dead or intubated patients (530 U/mL versus 1069 U/mL p < 0.001). KL-6 was correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r: 0.279, p: 0.009), lung ultrasound score (LUS) (r: 0.429, p < 0.001), Chung Score (r: 0.390, p < 0.001). KL-6 was associated with the risk of death or oro-tracheal intubation (IOT) after adjusting for gender, BMI, Charlson Index, Chung Score, and PaO2/FIO2 (OR 1.003 95% CI 1.001–1.004, p < 0.001). Serum KL-6 value of 968 has a sensitivity of 79.2%, specificity of 87.1%, PPV 70.4%, NPV 91.5%, AUC: O.85 for risk of death or IOT. Conclusions: The presented research highlights the relevance of serum KL-6 in severe to critical COVID-19 patients in predicting the risk of death or IOT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vaccination campaign and the new SARS-CoV-2 variants may have changed the clinical profile and outcomes of patients admitted to sub-intensive unit care. We conducted a retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological features of unvaccinated critical COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the last pandemic wave (December 2021–February 2022, No-Vax group) and before starting the vaccination campaign (March–December 2020, Pre-Vax group). The No-Vax group was also compared with vaccinated patients of the same pandemic wave (Vax group). With respect to the Pre-Vax group, the No-Vax group contained a higher percentage of smokers (p = 0.0007) and a lower prevalence of males (p = 0.0003). At admission, the No-Vax patients showed both a higher CT score of pneumonia and a worse severe respiratory failure (p < 0.0001). In the No-Vax group, a higher percentage of deaths occurred, though this was not significant. In comparison with the No-Vax group, the Vax patients were older (p = 0.0097), with a higher Charlson comorbidity index (p < 0.0001) and a significantly lower HRCT score (p = 0.0015). The percentage of deaths was not different between the two groups. The No-Vax patients showed a more severe disease in comparison with the Pre-Vax patients, and were younger and had fewer comorbidities than the Vax patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Several studies have explored the role of the inflammatory cells and cytokines involved in the protection or pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019. Unfortunately, the results have been controversial, and further studies are needed to better understand not only the roles but also the balance of these parameters, which are crucial data to improve prevention and treatment. As COVID-19 has a well-determined phasic progression and rapidly deteriorates approximately seven days after the onset of symptoms, it is extremely necessary to detect the clinical signs that are predictive of the outcome as early as possible. To this end, in this preliminary study, we evaluated the data relating to the monocyte intracellular TNF-α expression and lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood collected from patients at admission and every day of hospitalization until day 7. Our findings point to a modulation of the different cellular mediators of the immune system, which probably play a key role in the outcome of the coronavirus disease 2019. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, "SARS-CoV-2", was recognized as the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies have explored the changes and the role of inflammatory cells and cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of the disease, but until today, the results have been controversial. Based on these premises, we conducted a retrospective assessment of monocyte intracellular TNF-α expression (iTNF-α) and on the frequencies of lymphocyte sub-populations in twenty-five patients with moderate/severe COVID-19. We found lymphopenia in all COVID-19 infected subjects compared to healthy subjects. On initial observation, in patients with favorable outcomes, we detected a high absolute eosinophil count and a high CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes ratio, while in the Exitus Group, we observed high neutrophil and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts. During infection, in patients with favorable outcomes, we observed a rise in the lymphocyte count, in the monocyte and in Treg lymphocyte counts, and in the CD4+ and in CD8+ T lymphocytes count but a reduction in the CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio. Instead, in the Exitus Group, we observed a reduction in the Treg lymphocyte counts and a decrease in iTNF-α expression. Our preliminary findings point to a modulation of the different cellular mediators of the immune system, which probably play a key role in the outcomes of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]