We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

BMG LABTECH

BMG LABTECH is a manufacturer of a wide range of dedicated and multi-mode microplate instruments ranging from single-... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Events

09 Apr 2024 - 12 Apr 2024
15 Apr 2024 - 17 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024

Circulating ACE2 Activity Predicts Mortality and Severity in COVID-19 Patients

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 16 Dec 2021
Print article
Image: The CLARIOstar Plus is a multi-mode microplate reader with advanced LVF Monochromators, highly sensitive filters, and an ultra-fast UV/vis spectrometer (Photo courtesy of BMG Labtech)
Image: The CLARIOstar Plus is a multi-mode microplate reader with advanced LVF Monochromators, highly sensitive filters, and an ultra-fast UV/vis spectrometer (Photo courtesy of BMG Labtech)
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide in the last two years. This disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) represents the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2 to enter endothelial cells. ACE2 mediates the infection of endothelial cells, which induces endothelial activation and damage resulting in substantial release of von Willebrand factor and enhanced levels of soluble E-selectin.

Medical Laboratorians at the University of Debrecen (Debrecen, Hungary) recruited for a retrospective clinical study, 176 consecutive COVID-19 patients older than 18 years of age from two medical centers. These subjects suffered from different degrees of acute respiratory distress at admission and were confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 disease by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test of a nasopharyngeal swab.

Two-thirds of these patients had a positive hemoculture (e.g. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae), while the rest of individuals were culture-negative. All subjects had peripheral blood samples drawn at admission, and follow-up samples were also available before discharge or death in case of 106 subjects. The analysis of serum ACE2 activity was performed by a specific quenched fluorescent substrate (Peptide2, Chantilly, VA, USA). The cleavage of the quenched Mca-APK(Dnp) to liberate the fluorescent K(Dnp) was recorded using 340-nm excitation and 405-nm emission filters in a CLARIOstar microplate reader (BMG Labtech, Ortenberg, Germany).

Routinely available laboratory serum tests (i.e. CRP, PCT, IL-6, cTnT and ferritin) were determined by electro-chemiluminescent immunoassays on a Cobas e 411 analyzer, while enzyme activities (i.e. AST, ALT, LDH) and creatinine with urea levels were analyzed by kinetic colorimetric assays on a Cobas 8000 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany).

The investigators reported that initial ACE2 activity was significantly higher in critically ill COVID-19 patients (54.4 [36.7-90.8] mU/L) than in severe COVID-19 (34.5 [25.2-48.7] mU/L) and non-COVID-19 sepsis patients (40.9 [21.4-65.7] mU/L) regardless of comorbidities. Further, there was a tendency for higher ACE2 activity in relation to increasing age regardless of disease severity. Circulating ACE2 activity correlated with inflammatory biomarkers and was further elevated during hospital stay in critically ill patients. Based on ROC-curve analysis and logistic regression test, baseline ACE2 independently indicated the severity of COVID-19 with an AUC value of 0.701. Overall, non-survivors demonstrated significantly higher ACE2 activities (54.6 [IQR 37.3-94.7] mU/L) at hospital admission compared with survivors (35.6 [25.3-58.5] mU/L).

Miklós Fagyas, MD, PhD, an assistant professor and lead author of the study, said, “Serum ACE2 activity at hospital admission correlates with COVID-19 severity and predicts mortality, independently of the pulmonary function (Horowitz index). It appears that serum ACE2 is a non-specific biomarker in systemic inflammation, since it is also elevated in severe sepsis.” The study was published on November 25, 2021 in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Related Links:
University of Debrecen
Peptide2
BMG Labtech
Roche Diagnostics


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
Gold Member
Real-time PCR System
GentierX3 Series

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OvaCis Rapid Test discriminates benign from malignant epithelial ovarian cysts (Photo courtesy of INEX)

Intra-Operative POC Device Distinguishes Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Cysts within 15 Minutes

Ovarian cysts represent a significant health issue for women globally, with up to 10% experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. These cysts form when fluid collects within a thin membrane... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.