Longitudinal Analysis of the Lung Proteome Reveals Persistent Repair Months after Mild to Moderate COVID-19

ABSTRACT: In order to assess the restoration of homeostasis in the lung proteome after COVID-19 infection, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage on 45 patients with mild to moderate disease at three phases (acute, recovery, convalescence) over a year. Changes in proteins were assessed using a multimodal approach. During the acute phase, inflamed and uninflamed phenotypes were characterized by the expression of tissue repair and host defense response molecules. With recovery, inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators declined and clinical symptoms abated. However, at nine months, quantified radiographic abnormalities had resolved in the majority of patients, and yet compared to healthy persons, all showed ongoing activation of cellular repair processes and depression of the renin-kallikrein kinin-coagulation and complement systems. This dissociation of prolonged reparative processes from symptom and radiographic resolution suggests that occult ongoing disruption of the lung proteome is underrecognized and may be relevant to recovery from other serious viral pneumonias.

INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Fusion Lumos

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (ncbitaxon:9606)

SUBMITTER: Shreya Madisetty Kanth  

PROVIDER: MSV000094898 | MassIVE | Thu May 30 14:40:00 BST 2024

REPOSITORIES: MassIVE