Severity-related differences on response of antioxidant defense system in COVID-19 patients

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Abstract

Background. COVID-19 is a major human infectious disease with devastating economic and public health impacts globally. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of various viral infections. The aim of the present study was to evaluate oxidative stress biomarkers in COVID-19 patients with different severity to healthy participants. Materials and methods. This case-control study was conducted on 60 patients with COVID-19 infection (30 moderate and 30 severe) and 30 matched healthy controls referred to Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran from March until July 2020. Serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities and levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using biochemical methods. Results. In terms of gender, the healthy control group consisted of 17 males and 13 females, and the group of moderate patients included 20 males and 10 females and severe COVID-19 patients included 14 males and 16 females, which were not statistically significant (p = 0.295). Also, the mean age in severe COVID-19 patients (46.6±12.8) was not significantly different from the healthy control (43.8±12; p = 0.683) and moderate (45.60±13.30; p = 0.953) groups. The results showed that SOD and CAT activities and MDA level in moderate and severe of COVID-19 patients were higher than the healthy individuals, while GPx and GR activities and GSH and TAC levels were significantly lower. SOD and GPx activities and MDA level in severe of COVID-19 patients were significantly different from moderate patients. However, CAT and GR activities and TAC level in severe cases was not significantly different from moderate patients. Conclusion. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection as indicated by the enhancement of lipid peroxidation, depletion of GSH and alteration in antioxidant enzymes. The systemic oxidative stress is directly related to the severity of the pathogenesis. Therefore, substances with antioxidant properties may be a potential choice for the treatment of COVID-19 infection.

About the authors

M. Shohrati

Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

Email: majidshohrati@yahoo.com

PhD, Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy

Iran, Islamic Republic of, Tehran

Mahvash Jafari

Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: m.jafari145@gmail.com

PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine

Iran, Islamic Republic of, Tehran

M. Sadrzadeh

Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

Email: masoudsadr5468@gmail.com

Dr. in Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy

Iran, Islamic Republic of, Tehran

H. Ebrahiminezhad

Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

Email: hamidrezaebi@yahoo.com

Dr. in Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy

Iran, Islamic Republic of, Tehran

M. Ghanei

Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

Email: mghaneister@gmail.com

MD, Professor, Pulmonologist, Chemical Injuries Research Center

Iran, Islamic Republic of, Tehran

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