Metabolic transformation of oral fluid in COVID-19: the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Authors: Nazarkina I.A.1, Selezneva I.A.1, Gilmiyarova F.N.1, Kartashov V.V.1, Baldina O.A.1
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Affiliations:
- Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
- Issue: Vol 28, No 11 (2025)
- Pages: 77-85
- Section: Medical chemistry
- URL: https://journal-vniispk.ru/1560-9596/article/view/351550
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.29296/25877313-2025-11-10
- ID: 351550
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Abstract
Introduction. In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, studying all aspects of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the human body remains a priority. This article investigates changes in the oral fluid of patients with COVID-19, focusing on the relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and metabolic alterations.
Objective: To study the biochemical composition of oral fluid in COVID-19 patients and to identify the relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and potential metabolic changes.
Material and Methods. The study was conducted at the Samara State Medical University. Oral fluid from 157 COVID-19 patients (study group) and 89 healthy individuals (control group) was used as the research material. The following were determined in oral fluid: total protein content, albumin, C-reactive protein, metabolites (urea, uric acid, glucose, lactate), electrolytes, cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-8), and enzyme activity (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase). Statistical processing of the data was performed using the StatTech v. 4.8.7 software (developer – Stattech LLC, Russia).
Results. The study evaluated metabolic and immunological changes in the oral fluid of patients with COVID-19. A significant increase in the content of total protein, sodium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, iron, as well as interleukins-6 and -8, C-reactive protein, and activity of creatine phosphokinase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and lactate dehydrogenase was revealed. An inverse correlation was established between the level of IL-6 and the activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, concentration of urea and magnesium, which may indicate alternative mechanisms of COVID-19 pathogenesis in the oral cavity. A direct correlation was found between C-reactive protein and uric acid, likely associated with oxidative stress. IL-8 did not show significant relationships with the metabolic profile.
Conclusion. The results described above highlight the relationship between the immune response, metabolic status, and local processes occurring in the oral cavity. The identified patterns necessitate further in-depth research to study the molecular mechanisms of these relationships in detail. The knowledge gained can contribute to the search for potential biomarkers to assess disease severity, predict its outcome, and monitor the effectiveness of therapy, as well as to develop new therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating immune and metabolic disorders associated with COVID-19.
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##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
I. A. Nazarkina
Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Author for correspondence.
Email: bio-sam@yandex.ru
SPIN-code: 1926-3420
Assistant of the Department of Fundamental and Clinical Biochemistry with Laboratory Diagnostics
Russian Federation, 89 Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099I. A. Selezneva
Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Email: bio-sam@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6647-5330
SPIN-code: 5112-3841
Dr.Sc. (Med.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry with Laboratory Diagnostics
Russian Federation, 89 Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099F. N. Gilmiyarova
Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Email: bio-sam@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5619-4583
SPIN-code: 7638-1812
Dr.Sc. (Med.), Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Fundamental and Clinical Biochemistry with Laboratory Diagnostics
Russian Federation, 89 Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099V. V. Kartashov
Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Email: stomkvv@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8671-2898
SPIN-code: 7554-8410
Post-graduate Student of the Department of Orthopedic Dentistry
Russian Federation, 89 Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099O. A. Baldina
Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Email: bio-sam@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7566-2485
SPIN-code: 9767-4691
Ph.D. (Med.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry with Laboratory Diagnostics
Russian Federation, 89 Chapaevskaya str., Samara, 443099References
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