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. 2022 Mar;87(3):207-214.
doi: 10.1134/S0006297922030026.

High Serum Progranulin Levels in COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Study

Fatma B Özgeris  1 , Ömer F Koçak  2 , Nezahat Kurt  3 , Emine Parlak  4 , Neslihan Yüce  5 , Mevlüt S Keles  6
Affiliations

High Serum Progranulin Levels in COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Study

Fatma B Özgeris et al. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2022 Mar.

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to determine whether the progranulin level in serum predicts the course and severity of the disease in COVID-19 (+) patients and whether it can be used as a biomarker in these patients. Therefore, we sampled 61 people infected with COVID-19, and the cases were divided into the following groups: asymptomatic, noncomplicated, moderate, and severe. Concentrations of progranulin, TNF-α, IL-6 from in serum obtained from all participants were measured using commercially available ELISA kits, as well as WBC, PLT, NE, LY, ALT, AST, Hb, PCT, and CRP were examined with clinical analyzer. All measurements obtained for the patient samples were compared with those of 20 healthy individuals. The serum progranulin concentration was statistically higher in the COVID-19 (+) patient group than in the control group of healthy individuals [112.6 ± 54.8, 0.0 (0.0-54.2 pg/ml, respectively p = 0.000)]. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the progranulin potential as a biomarker for COVID-19 (+) patients. A larger AUC (0.931 ± 0.08) value and a more significant p-value for progranulin than for CRP (p = 0.000) was detected. As a result, we believe that progranulin reaches high levels in the COVID-19 disease and may be a determinant in diagnosis and prognosis, and may be a better biomarker than CRP.

Keywords: COVID-19; CRP; Il-6; progranulin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Clinical Researches of Ethical Committee of the Atatürk University (No: B.30.2.ATA.0.01.00/411). All COVID-19 cases were managed with guidance by the national guideline.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Boxplot graph of serum progranulin levels in the control group and in the COVID-19 (+) patient subgroups (p = 0.000). Designations: AG, asymptomatic group; NCG, noncomplicated group; MG, moderate group; SG, severe group; HCG, healthy control group.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
a) Scatter diagram of progranulin and PLT correlation in the severe group (R2 = 0.334, r = –0.578, p = 0.038); b) scatter diagram of progranulin and CRP correlation in the MG group (R2 = 0.224, r = 0.474, p = 0.017).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
a) Scatter diagram of progranulin and TNF-α concentration in the samples from all participants; b) scatter diagram of progranulin and IL-6 concentration in the samples from all participants.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
ROC analysis graphic of progranulin and CRP (AUC = 0.931, p = 0.000 for progranulin; AUC = 0.791; p = 0.000 for CRP).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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