Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Peripheral Immune Cell Profile in Long COVID
Alijotas-Reig, Jaume (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina)
Anunciación-Llunell, Ariadna (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Esteve-Valverde, Enrique (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Morales-Pérez, Stephanie (Fundació Althaia)
Rivero-Santana, Sergio (Fundació Althaia)
Trapé, Jaume (Institut de Recerca i Innovació en Ciències de la Vida i de la Salut a la Catalunya Central)
González-García, Laura (Institut de Recerca i Innovació en Ciències de la Vida i de la Salut a la Catalunya Central)
Ruiz, Domingo (Fundació Althaia)
Marques-Soares, Joana Rita (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Miró-Mur, Francesc (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	In Long COVID, dysfunction in the pituitary-adrenal axis and alterations in immune cells and inflammatory status are warned against. We performed a prospective study in a cohort of 42 patients who suffered COVID-19 at least 6 months before attending the Long COVID unit at Althaia Hospital. Based on Post-COVID Functional Status, 29 patients were diagnosed with Long COVID, while 13 were deemed as recovered. The hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis, adrenocorticotropin stimulation test, and immune cell profiles and inflammatory markers were examined. Patients with Long COVID had significantly lower EuroQol and higher mMRC scores compared to the recovered individuals. Their symptoms included fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, persistent coughing, a persistent sore throat, dyspnoea, a lack of concentration, and anxiety. We observed the physiological levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropin in individuals with or without Long COVID. The results of the adrenocorticotropin stimulation test were similar between both groups. The absolute number of neutrophils was lower in the Long COVID patients compared to recovered individuals (p < 0. 05). The total count of B lymphocytes remained consistent, but Long COVID patients had a higher percentage of mature B cells compared to recovered participants (p < 0. 05) and exhibited a higher percentage of circulating resident memory CD8+ T cells (p < 0. 05) and Treg-expressing exonucleases (p < 0. 05). Our findings did not identify adrenal dysfunction related to Long COVID, nor an association between adrenal function and clinical symptoms. The data indicated a dysregulation in certain immune cells, pointing to immune activation. No overt hyperinflammation was observed in the Long COVID group.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Adrenal insufficiency ; Cortisol ; Dyspnea ; Fatigue ; Immune cells ; Inflammation ; Long COVID
Published in:	Biomedicines, Vol. 12 (march 2024) , ISSN 2227-9059

DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12030581
PMID: 38540194

16 p, 1.9 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles