A distinct dexamethasone-dependent gene expression profile in the lungs of COVID-19 patients.
Ulrik FahnøeAndreas RonitRonan Martin Griffin BergSofie Eg JørgensenTrine Hyrup MogensenAlexander P UnderwoodTroels Kasper Høyer ScheelJens BukhRonni R PlovsingPublished in: The Journal of infectious diseases (2022)
The effects of dexamethasone (DXM) treatment on pulmonary immunity in COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) remain insufficiently understood. We performed transcriptomic RNA-seq analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 20 mechanically ventilated patients: 12 with CARDS (DXM+ or DXM-) and 8 non-COVID-19 critically ill controls. CARDS (+DXM) was characterized by upregulation of genes related to B-cell and complement pathway activation, antigen presentation, phagocytosis and FC-gamma receptor signalling. Most ISGs were upregulated in CARDS, particularly in CARDS (-DXM). In conclusion, DXM treatment was not associated with regulation of pro-inflammatory pathways in CARDS but with regulation of other local immune responses.
Keyphrases
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- rna seq
- sars cov
- gene expression
- coronavirus disease
- single cell
- immune response
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- mechanical ventilation
- low dose
- high dose
- dna methylation
- intensive care unit
- cell proliferation
- signaling pathway
- dendritic cells
- toll like receptor
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- replacement therapy