Vanessa Mylenna Florêncio de Carvalho , Bárbara de Oliveira Silva , Priscilla Stela Santana de Oliveira , Thacianna Barreto da Costa , Michelle Melgarejo da Rosa , Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rêgo , Michelly Cristiny Pereira , Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta
{"title":"CASPASE-3 expression and activity in PBMCs associate with SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical features","authors":"Vanessa Mylenna Florêncio de Carvalho , Bárbara de Oliveira Silva , Priscilla Stela Santana de Oliveira , Thacianna Barreto da Costa , Michelle Melgarejo da Rosa , Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rêgo , Michelly Cristiny Pereira , Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta","doi":"10.1016/j.clicom.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although vaccines and treatments exist, new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge. An imbalance between apoptosis and autophagy may contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis, leading to tissue damage and inflammation.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate the role of cell death-related proteins during SARS-CoV-2 infection and their associations with clinical variables.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 140 samples were analyzed (<em>n</em> = 73 infected, <em>n</em> = 67 uninfected). Gene expression of apoptotic and autophagic markers was evaluated by RT-qPCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Caspase 3/7 activity was assessed using flow cytometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Infected patients showed higher expression of CASPASE 3, BID (<em>p</em> < 0.05), and MAP1LC3 (<em>p</em> < 0.01). CASPASE 3 expression was higher in variant omicron, male sex, high viral load, and various clinical symptoms. Caspase 3/7 activity increased in CD4⁺ T and B cells of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although our previous results with CASPASE 3 are promising and suggest that it may become a potential therapeutic target, additional studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses and evaluate potential intervention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Immunology Communications","volume":"8 ","pages":"Pages 81-89"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Immunology Communications","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772613425000162","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Although vaccines and treatments exist, new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge. An imbalance between apoptosis and autophagy may contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis, leading to tissue damage and inflammation.
Objective
To investigate the role of cell death-related proteins during SARS-CoV-2 infection and their associations with clinical variables.
Methods
A total of 140 samples were analyzed (n = 73 infected, n = 67 uninfected). Gene expression of apoptotic and autophagic markers was evaluated by RT-qPCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Caspase 3/7 activity was assessed using flow cytometry.
Results
Infected patients showed higher expression of CASPASE 3, BID (p < 0.05), and MAP1LC3 (p < 0.01). CASPASE 3 expression was higher in variant omicron, male sex, high viral load, and various clinical symptoms. Caspase 3/7 activity increased in CD4⁺ T and B cells of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions
Although our previous results with CASPASE 3 are promising and suggest that it may become a potential therapeutic target, additional studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses and evaluate potential intervention strategies.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
