Biomedicines, Vol. 11, Pages 1847: The Correlation of Serum Calpain 1 Activity and Concentrations of Interleukin 33 in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Biomedicines, Vol. 11, Pages 1847: The Correlation of Serum Calpain 1 Activity and Concentrations of Interleukin 33 in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Biomedicines doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11071847

Authors: Domagoj Loinjak Damir Mihić Robert Smolić Lana Maričić Ines Šahinović Martina Smolić Renata Sikora Sanja Loinjak Kristijan Dinjar Aleksandar Včev

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the most severe complications of the COVID-19 disease. The role of IL-33 and calpain 1 was previously described in lung infections and lung tissue damage. Our study examined the association between serum calpain 1 activity and IL-33 concentration in patients with COVID-19 ARDS. In the research, we included 80 subjects who had COVID-19 pneumonia and divided them into 2 groups: 40 subjects with ARDS and 40 subjects without ARDS. The basis of the research was the collection of subjects’ data and the sampling of peripheral venous blood. The concentration of IL-33 was determined by the ELISA method and the activity of calpain 1 by the fluorometry method. Our research showed elevated calpain 1 activity and IL-33 concentration in the serum of COVID-19 patients who developed ARDS compared to those who did not develop ARDS and a positive correlation between them was established. Further, a positive correlation was established between the examined parameters and the severity of the disease, proinflammatory markers, and the use of mechanical ventilation. These results indicate a possible association and role of calpain 1 and IL-33 with the development of ARDS in COVID-19 patients.