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Pavel, Vlad ; Mester, Patricia ; Höring, Marcus ; Liebisch, Gerhard ; Schmid, Stephan ; Müller, Martina ; Buechler, Christa

Distinct Plasma LPC Signatures Differentiate COVID-19 Sepsis from Other Sepsis Aetiologies

Pavel, Vlad , Mester, Patricia, Höring, Marcus , Liebisch, Gerhard , Schmid, Stephan , Müller, Martina and Buechler, Christa (2025) Distinct Plasma LPC Signatures Differentiate COVID-19 Sepsis from Other Sepsis Aetiologies. Biomedicines 13 (9), p. 2110.

Date of publication of this fulltext: 19 Sep 2025 13:30
Article
DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.77785


Abstract

Background/Objectives: Low levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in the blood can be used as a diagnostic marker for sepsis. SARS-CoV-2 infection, a more recent cause of sepsis, shares similarities with non-SARS-CoV-2 sepsis but also exhibits distinct features. We have recently shown that plasma cholesteryl ester levels are higher in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection than in patients without, ...

Background/Objectives: Low levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in the blood can be used as a diagnostic marker for sepsis. SARS-CoV-2 infection, a more recent cause of sepsis, shares similarities with non-SARS-CoV-2 sepsis but also exhibits distinct features. We have recently shown that plasma cholesteryl ester levels are higher in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection than in patients without, and this study analysed whether this may extend to differences in LPC, a bioactive constituent of lipoproteins. Methods: The plasma levels of 13 LPC species were measured by flow injection analysis tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS) in 157 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis or septic shock. Of these patients, 24 had SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Patients with SIRS exhibited higher plasma levels of the minor LPC species LPC 15:0 and 22:4 compared to those with sepsis or septic shock. Five LPC species were also reduced in the plasma of 31 patients with liver cirrhosis; therefore, patients with cirrhosis or SIRS were excluded from subsequent analyses. Compared to 76 non-COVID-19 patients with sepsis or septic shock, SARS-CoV-2 infection in 21 patients was associated with significantly higher plasma levels of ten individual LPC species and total LPC concentration. In patients with sepsis/septic shock, LPC species showed negative correlations with procalcitonin and interleukin-6, and positive correlations with gamma-glutamyltransferase and cholesteryl ester levels. In contrast, no significant associations were observed between LPC levels and C-reactive protein, aminotransferases, or free cholesterol. Conclusions: Differential LPC levels, despite comparable disease severity, may serve as metabolic biomarkers to distinguish SARS-CoV-2 sepsis from other causes of sepsis and inform targeted therapeutic approaches.



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Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitleBiomedicines
Publisher:MDPI
Open Access Type:Gold (with APC)
Volume:13
Number of Issue or Book Chapter:9
Page Range:p. 2110
Date29 August 2025
InstitutionsMedicine > Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I
Identification Number
ValueType
10.3390/biomedicines13092110DOI
KeywordsCOVID-19; lysophosphatidylcholine; sepsis; mortality
Dewey Decimal Classification600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-777855
Item ID77785

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