Redox Biomarkers – An Effective Tool for Diagnosing COVID-19 Patients and Convalescents

Abstract

Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,1 Justyna Dorf,2 Joanna Matowicka-Karna,2 Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska,2 Marzena Wojewódzka-Żeleźniakowicz,3 Piotr Żukowski,4 Anna Zalewska,5 Łukasz Dąbrowski,6 Mateusz Maciejczyk7 1Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 3Department of Emergency Medicine and Disasters, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 4Department of Restorative Dentistry, Croydon University Hospital, London, UK; 5Independent Laboratory of Experimental Dentistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 6Medical Laboratory, “Diagnostyka” Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland; 7Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka, Email [email protected]: COVID-19 triggers the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, in combination with a weakened antioxidant barrier, can lead to protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, the overall redox potential, and protein and lipid peroxidation products in COVID-19 patients, convalescents, and healthy subjects, and to the determine the diagnostic applicability of these parameters in COVID-19 patients.Materials and Methods: The study involved 218 patients with COVID-19, 69 convalescents, and 48 healthy subjects who were selected for the research based on age and sex. The study was conducted between 20 February 2021 and 20 November 2021 in Białystok, Poland. The antioxidant barrier, redox status, and oxidative damage products were assessed in serum/plasma samples with the use of colorimetric and spectrophotometric assays.Results: Glutathione reductase (GR) activity was higher, whereas total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was lower in COVID-19 patients than in convalescents (p< 0.0001) and the control group (p< 0.0001). The concentrations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were higher in COVID-19 patients (p< 0.0001) and convalescents (p< 0.0001) than in the control group. AGEs were the most effective diagnostic biomarker for differentiating COVID-19 patients from the control group (AUC=0.9971) and convalescents from the control group (AUC=1.000).Conclusion: An infection with the SARS-CoV-2 disrupts the redox balance and increases protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation. AGEs fulfill the criteria for a potential diagnostic biomarker in COVID-19 patients and convalescents.Keywords: oxidative stress, redox biomarkers, antioxidants, COVID-19, SARS CoV-2 virus

Keywords

• oxidative stress
• redox biomarkers
• antioxidants
• covid-19
• sars cov-2 virus