Identifying early signs of permanent lung damage in COVID-19 patients

Bakgrund:

A novel patient group is emerging in the aftermaths of COVID-19 infection with persistent lung fibrosis. Even in milder COVID-19, although more pronounced in severe patients, lung fibrosis is evident prognosticating for a significant number of patients to treat in the future. We propose to identify convergent biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and severe COVID-19 to determine patient groups at risk of developing fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.

Målsättning:

Our hypothesis is that a significant number of long-term COVID-19 patients have persistent lung remodeling that may develop towards chronic lung fibrosis over time. We propose to develop biomarkers that detect lung remodeling, which precedes fibrosing interstitial lung diseases. Moreover, we aim to identify cellular pathways that could be targetable to intervene with the fibrotic processes in the lung.

Arbetsplan:

To identify these patients, we will investigate biomarkers associated with clinical data and lung function in IPF in sera from long-term COVID-19 patients. Histological features associated with key biological pathways activated in fibrosis will be investigated using spatial transcriptomics in patients with biomarker profile overlapping with IPF patients. In this way we hope to identify targets to therapeutically inhibit the course toward chronic pulmonary fibrosis upon COVID-19 infection.

Betydelse:

By early identification of long-term effects of COVID-19 patients with reduced pulmonary function, we will have the opportunity to intervene with their further deterioration towards chronic lung fibrosis. This would prevent severe suffering in the individual patients along with saving the health care system from an increasing burden.