The unique metabolic and lipid profiles of patients with severe COVID-19 compared to severe community-acquired pneumonia: a potential prognostic and therapeutic target.

Abstract

Background: Compare the changes and differences in metabolome and lipidome profiles among severe COVID-19 and CAP patients with ARF to identify biomarkers that could be used for personalized diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Research design and methods: Plasma samples were taken at hospital admission (baseline) and on the 5^th day of hospitalization (follow-up) and examined by RP-LC-QTOF-MS and HILIC-LC-QTOF-MS.

Results: 127 patients, 17 with CAP and 110 with COVID-19, were included. The analysis revealed 87 altered metabolites, suggesting changes in the metabolism of arachidonic acid, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, linoleic acid, pyruvate, glycolysis, among others. Most of these metabolites are involved in inflammatory, hypoxic, and thrombotic processes. At baseline, the greatest differences were found in phosphatidylcholine (PC) 31:4 (p < 0.001), phosphoserine (PS) 34:3 (p < 0.001), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) 36:5 (p < 0.001), all of which were notably decreased in COVID-19 patients. At follow-up, the most dysregulated metabolites were monomethyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE-Nme) 40:5 (p < 0.001) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) 38:4 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Metabolic and lipidic alterations suggest inhibition of innate anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic mechanisms in COVID-19 patients, which might lead to increased viral proliferation, uncontrolled inflammation, and thrombi formation. Results provide novel targets for predictive biomarkers against CAP and COVID-19.

Trial registration: Not applicable.