DNA Damage in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Covid19, DNA Damage, Organ Failure, Multiple

Critically ill patients with COVID-19 are exposed to high oxidative stress which is potential harm to the DNA. Peripheral lymphocytes' DNA will be investigated using the comet assay on changes in oxidative damage to the purine and pyrimidine bases and single-stranded DNA breaks.

Data from hospital documentation will be recorded for all patients: demographic data, clinical data (Horowitz index, the necessity of pronation position, opening maneuvers, connection to ECMO, state of the circulation and other organ functions), laboratory data: parameters of inflammatory activity and COVID-19 specific markers (blood count with differential leukocyte count, CRP, IL-6, ferritin, procalcitonin, D-dimers). In the study, 4 ml of heparinized peripheral blood will be collected for analytical purposes beyond standard practice for lymphocyte isolation and monitoring of oxidative DNA damage upon admission to the ICU (D1), after 2 days (D3) and on day 7 (D7) of the hospitalization. The same blood sample will be used to determine EPA and DHA omega-3 in erythrocyte membranes. At the same intervals and frequency, 10 ml of urine will be collected for the determination of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyquanosine (8-OHdG), so a total of 30 ml of urine will be collected for analytical purposes. Details for analytical processing: peripheral blood lymphocyte damage will be assessed using the alkaline COMET ASSAY method for DNA breakage and modified COMET ASSAY using specific enzymes for the detection of oxidized bases, endonuclease III (ENDO III) for the detection of oxidized pyrimidines and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG) for the detection of oxidized purines. Leukocyte repair capacity will be determined using a modified COMET ASSAY, which uses extracts of patient lymphocytes and HeLa cells with defined DNA damage. The extent of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyquanosine (8-OHdG) DNA damage in patients' urine will be determined by determining the concentration of 8-OHdG by ELISA.

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