Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Introduction: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) release (i.e., NETosis) has been recently implicated in the pathomechanism underlying severe end-organ damage in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and could present a novel therapeutic target. We aimed to determine whether circulating levels of c...

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Main Authors: Brandon Michael Henry, Maria Helena Santos de Oliveira, Isaac Cheruiyot, Justin Benoit, James Rose, Emmanuel J. Favaloro, Giuseppe Lippi, Stefanie Benoit, Naomi Pode Shakked
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9339411
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author Brandon Michael Henry
Maria Helena Santos de Oliveira
Isaac Cheruiyot
Justin Benoit
James Rose
Emmanuel J. Favaloro
Giuseppe Lippi
Stefanie Benoit
Naomi Pode Shakked
author_facet Brandon Michael Henry
Maria Helena Santos de Oliveira
Isaac Cheruiyot
Justin Benoit
James Rose
Emmanuel J. Favaloro
Giuseppe Lippi
Stefanie Benoit
Naomi Pode Shakked
author_sort Brandon Michael Henry
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) release (i.e., NETosis) has been recently implicated in the pathomechanism underlying severe end-organ damage in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and could present a novel therapeutic target. We aimed to determine whether circulating levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), a surrogate for NETosis, may be associated with the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), a major contributor to poor outcomes and mortality in COVID-19. Methods: Blood samples were collected prospectively from adult patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 presenting to the emergency department (ED). Circulating levels of cfDNA were quantified from patients’ serum. Further assessment of correlations between cfDNA levels and markers of AKI (i.e., serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL)), biomarkers of thrombotic microangiopathy and of inflammation in patients’ serum was performed. Results: Fifty-one COVID-19 patients were enrolled. cfDNA levels were found to be significantly higher in those who developed severe AKI (p<0.001) and those needing renal replacement therapy (p=0.020). cfDNA positively correlated with ED SCr, NGAL, cystatin C, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C3a, C5a, Scb5-9, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, LDH, CRP, ferritin, and fibrinogen and negatively correlated with ADAMTS13/von-Willebrand factor ratio and lymphocyte count. In a multivariate logistic regression, a one-unit increase in cfDNA value was associated with 4.6% increased odds of severe AKI (OR=1.046; p=0.040). Finally, cfDNA significantly correlated with established NETs components, myeloperoxidase, and neutrophil elastase. Conclusion: Intravascular NETosis could be an important contributing factor in the development of microthrombosis and COVID-19-associated AKI. Further research is urgently needed to understand the role of NETosis in COVID-19 and evaluate therapeutic avenues for targeting this process.
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spelling doaj-art-438ba7f854f748fb841c982e3dd360aa2025-08-20T03:35:55ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation1466-18612022-01-01202210.1155/2022/9339411Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney InjuryBrandon Michael Henry0Maria Helena Santos de Oliveira1Isaac Cheruiyot2Justin Benoit3James Rose4Emmanuel J. Favaloro5Giuseppe Lippi6Stefanie Benoit7Naomi Pode Shakked8Division of Nephrology and HypertensionDepartment of StatisticsSchool of MedicineDepartment of Emergency MedicineDivision of Nephrology and HypertensionHaematologySection of Clinical BiochemistryDivision of Nephrology and HypertensionDivision of Nephrology and HypertensionIntroduction: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) release (i.e., NETosis) has been recently implicated in the pathomechanism underlying severe end-organ damage in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and could present a novel therapeutic target. We aimed to determine whether circulating levels of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), a surrogate for NETosis, may be associated with the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), a major contributor to poor outcomes and mortality in COVID-19. Methods: Blood samples were collected prospectively from adult patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 presenting to the emergency department (ED). Circulating levels of cfDNA were quantified from patients’ serum. Further assessment of correlations between cfDNA levels and markers of AKI (i.e., serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL)), biomarkers of thrombotic microangiopathy and of inflammation in patients’ serum was performed. Results: Fifty-one COVID-19 patients were enrolled. cfDNA levels were found to be significantly higher in those who developed severe AKI (p<0.001) and those needing renal replacement therapy (p=0.020). cfDNA positively correlated with ED SCr, NGAL, cystatin C, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C3a, C5a, Scb5-9, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, LDH, CRP, ferritin, and fibrinogen and negatively correlated with ADAMTS13/von-Willebrand factor ratio and lymphocyte count. In a multivariate logistic regression, a one-unit increase in cfDNA value was associated with 4.6% increased odds of severe AKI (OR=1.046; p=0.040). Finally, cfDNA significantly correlated with established NETs components, myeloperoxidase, and neutrophil elastase. Conclusion: Intravascular NETosis could be an important contributing factor in the development of microthrombosis and COVID-19-associated AKI. Further research is urgently needed to understand the role of NETosis in COVID-19 and evaluate therapeutic avenues for targeting this process.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9339411
spellingShingle Brandon Michael Henry
Maria Helena Santos de Oliveira
Isaac Cheruiyot
Justin Benoit
James Rose
Emmanuel J. Favaloro
Giuseppe Lippi
Stefanie Benoit
Naomi Pode Shakked
Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury
Mediators of Inflammation
title Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury
title_full Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury
title_fullStr Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury
title_full_unstemmed Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury
title_short Cell-Free DNA, Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and Endothelial Injury in Coronavirus Disease 2019– (COVID-19–) Associated Acute Kidney Injury
title_sort cell free dna neutrophil extracellular traps nets and endothelial injury in coronavirus disease 2019 covid 19 associated acute kidney injury
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9339411
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