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The content provided discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems and the challenges in managing patients with varying symptoms. It explores the potential of using proteins related to blood clot formation, inflammation, and blood vessel dysfunction, particularly plasminogen, as biomarkers to predict COVID-19 severity. The study led by researchers at Juntendo University in Japan suggests that proteins regulating plasminogen-plasmin levels can help identify individuals at risk of developing severe stages of the disease.
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems has been significant. The sudden surge in infected cases overwhelmed hospitals and disrupted routine healthcare services, thus further worsening public health. Managing patients, too, has been challenging due to the variation of COVID-19 symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, that require medical intervention.
To help hospitals prioritize patients in need of care, researchers have been looking into various biological markers that can determine the risk of the disease becoming more severe. Among these, proteins in the blood related to blood clot formation, increased inflammation, and dysfunction of blood vessels have shown promise. One specific protein of interest is plasminogen, which, when activated to plasmin, dissolves blood clots by breaking down fibrin, which is the mesh-like structure holding the clot together. However, many individuals with COVID-19 tend to have lower levels of this critical protein.
Now, in a study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology on 11 January 2024, researchers from Juntendo University in Japan led by Specially Appointed Senior Associate Professor Koichi Hattori, along with Associate Professor Beate Heissig and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science researcher Tetiana Yatsenko, find that proteins regulating plasminogen-plasmin levels can be used as biomarkers to identify individuals who are at risk of progressing to a severe stage of the disease. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science researcher Tetiana Yatsenko, find that proteins regulating plasminogen-plasmin levels can be used as biomarkers to identify individuals who are at risk of progressing to