Low HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity Indicates a Fatal Course of COVID-19

• Main Authors: Julia T. Stadler (Author), Harald Mangge (Author), Alankrita Rani (Author), Pero Curcic (Author), Markus Herrmann (Author), Florian Prüller (Author), Gunther Marsche (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Plasma membrane cholesterol is required for proper trafficking and localization of receptors that facilitate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) mobilize plasma membrane cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol levels are associated with the severity of COVID-19 disease and mortality. However, HDL-cholesterol levels poorly reflect the function of this complex family of particles, and a detailed assessment of COVID-19-associated changes in HDL functionality and its prognostic value is lacking. In the present study, we assessed HDL cholesterol efflux capacity, HDL anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and changes in HDL composition and metabolism in COVID-19 (<i>n</i> = 48) and non-COVID pneumonia patients (<i>n</i> = 32). COVID-19 infection markedly reduced the activity of lecithin-cholesteryl-acyltransferase and functional parameters of HDL, such as the cholesterol efflux capacity, arylesterase activity of paraoxonase 1, and anti-oxidative capacity of apoB-depleted serum when compared to non-COVID pneumonia at baseline, paralleled by markedly reduced levels of HDL-cholesterol. Of particular interest, low HDL cholesterol efflux capacity was associated with increased mortality risk in COVID-19 patients, independent of HDL-C levels. Our results highlight profound effects of COVID-19 infection on HDL function, metabolism, and composition. Low HDL cholesterol efflux capacity indicates a fatal course of COVID-19, independent of HDL-cholesterol levels.

Item Description

10.3390/antiox11101858
2076-3921