Evaluation of both expression and serum protein levels of caspase-8 and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 genes in patients with different severities of COVID-19 infection

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Acat M., Gulhan P. Y., ERÖZ R., Ertinmaz Ozkan A., Koca O., Cinar C.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS, vol.50, no.4, pp.3241-3248, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 50 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11033-023-08244-4
  • Journal Name: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.3241-3248
  • Keywords: CASP8 gene, Cellular homeostasis, MAPK1, SARS-CoV-2, NUCLEOPHOSMIN, NUCLEOLIN
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Marmara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

AimThe current study aimed to evaluate the effects of caspase-8 (CASP8) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) gene expression levels and their products on preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.MethodsA total of 40 patients (men, 15 [37.5%]; women, 25 [62.5%]) with COVID-19 infection were included in the current study. The patients were divided into four main groups based on disease severity: mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 10), severe (n = 14), and critical (n = 9). Individuals aged < 18 years and pregnant women were excluded. Patients were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system (WHO/2019-nCoV/clinical/2021.1).ResultsConsidering all groups, statistically significant differences were detected among all groups for both CASP8(2-Delta Delta Ct) (p = 0.006) and MAPK1 2(-Delta Delta Ct) values (p = 0.015). Moreover, statistically significant differences were detected between mild and moderate (p = 0.013), moderate and critical (p = 0.018), and severe and critical (p = 0.023) groups for lymphocytes.ConclusionThe CASP8/MAPK1 expression levels and/or its products are essential in preventing injury caused by COVID-19 infection. They play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and viability. Furthermore, CASP8/MAPK1 levels can provide information about disease severity.