Metabolomics and Cytokine Signatures in COVID-19: Uncovering Immunometabolism in Pathogenesis

作者：Mohammad Mehdi Banoei, Abdolrazagh Hashemi Shahraki, Kayo Santos, Gregory E. Holt, Mehdi Mirsaeidi · 发表于：Metabolites · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/metabo15090608 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies、Tryptophan and brain disorders、COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze metabolic changes in blood samples from patients with confirmed COVID-19 to explore the correlation between metabolomics and cytokines in survivors and non-survivors of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Understanding the complex biochemical and immunometabolic mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential for elucidating the pathophysiology and virulence of COVID-19. METHODS: This study included 40 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 40 healthy controls. Serum metabolic profiles were analyzed using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), and cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: Our study defined three clear metabolic phenotypes among survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 compared with healthy controls, which might be related to mortality, severity, and disease burden. A strong relationship was observed between certain inflammatory markers, including IL-1β, IL-2, IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-17, and GM-CSF, as well as several metabolites, particularly in COVID-19 non-survivors, such as LysoPCs, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and serotonin. Different metabolite-cytokine correlation patterns were observed according to patient outcomes, indicating unique correlations between metabolic and immune responses in survivors and non-survivors. Metabolic phenotypes were associated with clinical outcomes, comorbidities, and sex-related differences. Kynurenine and related metabolites of tryptophan metabolism were closely corre...