Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and Glutathione Reductase Gene Expression as Key Factors in the Glutathione System, in Oxidative Stress Pathways in Patients with COVID-19.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 emerged as a major global health challenge, rapidly spreading worldwide and affecting millions of people. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to address the gene expression of Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and Glutathione Reductase at the mRNA level and specify which group is being referenced.

Materials and methods: RNA was extracted from blood samples of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU with severe symptoms of the disease, as well as infectious wards, with mild symptoms of COVID-19, and then cDNA was synthesized. The sequence of the designed primers was examined in the human genome sequence using BLAST software, and finally, the Real-Time RT-PCR reactions were duplicated.

Results: Glutathione Peroxidase and Glutathione Reductase markers in the peripheral blood of patients with severe and mild symptoms showed a statistically significant difference in terms of positivity (P-value <0.001). Then, the Ct of each sample was determined. The difference in the expression of markers between the two groups was calculated using "2^-ΔΔCt " and showed that the increased expression of these markers in the group of patients with severe symptoms compared to mild ones.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), key components of the glutathione antioxidant system, may be upregulated in response to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and oxidative stress.