Abstract
Background: ARDS is developed by 20-30% of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The presence of long-term pulmonary sequelae has been described in around 80% of these patients. Despite the clinical relevance, there is a lack of molecular information on the mechanisms that mediate the pulmonary sequelae.
Aim and objectives: To identify biological pathways involved in the pulmonary sequelae from COVID-19-induced ARDS using microRNA (miRNA) profiling.
Methods: Consecutive patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS (n=156) were recruited and evaluated 3 months after hospital discharge. The follow-up included a complete pulmonary function evaluation and a chest computed tomography (CT). DLCO and total severity score (TSS) of CT were used to characterize the pulmonary sequelae. Plasma miRNAs were quantified by RT-qPCR. Random Forest (RF) was used to identify miRNA signatures.
Results: DLCO was abnormal (<80%) in the 81.8% of the population and the TSS had a median value of 5 [2; 8]. RF identified a circulating miRNA signature (miR-17-5p, miR-27a-3p, miR-126-3p, miR-146a-5p and miR-495-3p) that was associated with DLCO levels. Concerning structural sequelae, a miRNA signature composed by miR-27a-3p, miR-214-3p and miR-495-3p correlated with TSS values. In silico analyses using the miRNA signatures provided information on diverse molecular pathways and biological processes related to fibrosis, cell death, inflammation, immune response and coagulation.
Conclusions: Functional and structural sequelae of COVID-19 ARDS are associated to specifir circulating patterns. The identified molecular mechanisms provide novel information for therapeutic approaches to treat the consequences of severe COVID-19.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA4116.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021