Analysis of differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases and defensins in the nasopharyngeal milieu of mild and severe COVID-19 cases

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304311
• Publication Date: 2025-02-18T18:43:49Z
• Authors: Khekashan Imtiaz; Nida Farooqui; Khalid Ahmed; Alnara Zhamalbekova; Muhammad Faraz Anwar; Asghar Nasir; Zeeshan Ansar; Khitab Gul; Azhar Hussain; Antonio Sarría-Sa...; Syed Hani Abidi
• Keywords: Pathophysiology

Introduction A subset of COVID-19 disease patients suffers a severe form the illness; however, underlying early pathophysiological mechanisms associated with remain to be fully understood. Several studies showed association severity changes in expression profile various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and defensins (DA). However, link between MMPs DA nasopharyngeal milieu during phases infection remains poorly Therefore, we performed differential gene analysis swab samples collected from normal (COVID-19 negative), mild, cases examined MMP severity. Material method total 118 previously mild (as per WHO criteria) 10 healthy individuals negative, controls) were used this study. real-time qPCR assay was determine viral loads assess mRNA DA. One-way ANOVA applied perform multiple comparisons (estimate differences) defensin vs groups. In addition, multivariable logistic regression carried out all variables data set using ‘severity’ as outcome variable. Results Our results that compared controls, DA1, DA3, DA4 significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated group, whereas DA6 downregulated both groups (p-value 0.05). Similarly, MMP1 MMP7 groups, MMP2 group Additionally, MMP1, MMP2, MMP9 disease. Conclusion The detection may act useful biomarker/predictor for possible disease, which clinical management reduce COVID-19-associated morbidity mortality.