Phenylalanine and COVID-19: Tracking disease severity markers

Author(s)

Luporini, Rafael Luis ^{[1, 2]} ; Pott-Junior, Henrique ^[2] ; Leal, Maria Carolina B. Di Medeiros ^[3] ; Castro, Alex ^[3] ; Ferreira, Antonio Gilberto ^[3] ; Cominetti, Marcia Regina ^[4] ; Anibal, Fernanda de Freitas ^{[1, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Biotechnol Grad Program, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Med, Rod Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Chem, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[4] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Gerontol, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[5] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Biol Sci Parasitol, Sao Carlos - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: International Immunopharmacology; v. 101, n. A DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background: Although there are several severity predictors for COVID-19, none are specific. Serum levels of phenylalanine were recently associated with increased inflammation, higher SOFA scores, ICU admission, and mortality rates among non-COVID-19 patients. Here, we investigated the relationship between phenylalanine and inflammatory markers in adults with COVID-19. Methods: We assessed adults with COVID-19 at hospital admission for clinical and laboratory data. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measured serum levels of phenylalanine and other amino acids of its metabolomic pathway. Flow Cytometry measured serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, Il-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma. Linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders assessed the relationship between serum levels of phenylalanine and inflammatory cytokines. Results: Phenylalanine and tyrosine were significantly lower in mild disease as compared to moderate and severe groups. Linear regression models showed that phenylalanine is independently and positively associated with disease severity regardless of the cytokine analyzed and after adjustment for potential confounders. In addition, mild cases showed consistently lower serum phenylalanine levels within the first ten days from disease onset to hospital admission. Conclusions: Phenylalanine is a marker of disease severity. This association is independent of the time between the onset of symptoms and the magnitude of the inflammatory state. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/13939-7 - Metabolomic analysis by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) of blood samples from individuals submitted to cardiorespiratory rehabilitation.
• Grantee: Alex Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/50867-3 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalysis
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/16135-9 - National Institute of Science and Technology for the biorational control of pest-insect and phytopathogens
• Grantee: Maria Carolina Bezerra di Medeiros Leal
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral