What do we know about calprotectin and COVID-19?
What do we know about calprotectin and COVID-19?
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Calprotectin is a type of protein that is released into the body by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). Neutrophils help heal damaged tissues and stop infections from spreading. When there is any type of swelling in a person, the amount of neutrophils produced by the immune system increases naturally, in order to help protect and defend the body. When there is inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (the digestive system in humans and animals that help them digest, absorb, and discard food and liquids), neutrophils move to that area and release the calprotectin protein to help protect and defend the body. Because of this, studies have shown that increased levels of calprotectin in the body are linked to higher levels of inflammation in the GI tract, so calprotectin levels are often tested in people with gastrointestinal issues to determine whether or not they have illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease or other infections. Despite calprotectin normally being used as a marker for inflammation in the intestines, new research claims that measuring levels of this protein might help determine whether or not people who have tested positive for the coronavirus may develop more severe symptoms. Recent research in a pre-print study and a Letter to the Editor (in the Journal of Infection) shows a potential link between the levels of calprotectin in people infected with COVID-19 and more severe cases of the virus. In another pre-print study (which should not be used to guide medical treatments or practices) researchers found a potential link between higher levels of calprotectin in the body of COVID-19 patients with a higher number of patients who require breathing support with a ventilator (a machine that makes sure your body gets enough oxygen by moving air in and out a patient's lungs). Both of the studies suggest that testing levels of calprotectin in people with the virus might help doctors predict how severe each patient's symptoms and outcomes might be. Studies are ongoing, but there is not enough evidence at this time to support this finding and no scientific consensus whether or not calprotectin can serve as a prediction of how serious the virus will be in some patients. Researchers will continue studying calprotectin in COVID-19 patients, but for now, calprotectin is still used primarily as a way for doctors to see if patients have inflammation in their intestines.
Calprotectin is a type of protein that is released into the body by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). Neutrophils help heal damaged tissues and stop infections from spreading. When there is any type of swelling in a person, the amount of neutrophils produced by the immune system increases naturally, in order to help protect and defend the body. When there is inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (the digestive system in humans and animals that help them digest, absorb, and discard food and liquids), neutrophils move to that area and release the calprotectin protein to help protect and defend the body. Because of this, studies have shown that increased levels of calprotectin in the body are linked to higher levels of inflammation in the GI tract, so calprotectin levels are often tested in people with gastrointestinal issues to determine whether or not they have illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease or other infections. Despite calprotectin normally being used as a marker for inflammation in the intestines, new research claims that measuring levels of this protein might help determine whether or not people who have tested positive for the coronavirus may develop more severe symptoms. Recent research in a pre-print study and a Letter to the Editor (in the Journal of Infection) shows a potential link between the levels of calprotectin in people infected with COVID-19 and more severe cases of the virus. In another pre-print study (which should not be used to guide medical treatments or practices) researchers found a potential link between higher levels of calprotectin in the body of COVID-19 patients with a higher number of patients who require breathing support with a ventilator (a machine that makes sure your body gets enough oxygen by moving air in and out a patient's lungs). Both of the studies suggest that testing levels of calprotectin in people with the virus might help doctors predict how severe each patient's symptoms and outcomes might be. Studies are ongoing, but there is not enough evidence at this time to support this finding and no scientific consensus whether or not calprotectin can serve as a prediction of how serious the virus will be in some patients. Researchers will continue studying calprotectin in COVID-19 patients, but for now, calprotectin is still used primarily as a way for doctors to see if patients have inflammation in their intestines.
Publication
What our experts say
Calprotectin is a type of protein that is released into the body by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). Neutrophils help heal damaged tissues and stop infections from spreading. When there is any type of swelling in a person, the amount of neutrophils produced by the immune system increases naturally, in order to help protect and defend the body.
When there is inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (the digestive system in humans and animals that help them digest, absorb, and discard food and liquids), neutrophils move to that area and release the calprotectin protein to help protect and defend the body. Because of this, studies have shown that increased levels of calprotectin in the body are linked to higher levels of inflammation in the GI tract, so calprotectin levels are often tested in people with gastrointestinal issues to determine whether or not they have illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease or other infections.
Despite calprotectin normally being used as a marker for inflammation in the intestines, new research claims that measuring levels of this protein might help determine whether or not people who have tested positive for the coronavirus may develop more severe symptoms. Recent research in a pre-print study and a Letter to the Editor (in the Journal of Infection) shows a potential link between the levels of calprotectin in people infected with COVID-19 and more severe cases of the virus.
In another pre-print study (which should not be used to guide medical treatments or practices) researchers found a potential link between higher levels of calprotectin in the body of COVID-19 patients with a higher number of patients who require breathing support with a ventilator (a machine that makes sure your body gets enough oxygen by moving air in and out a patient's lungs).
Both of the studies suggest that testing levels of calprotectin in people with the virus might help doctors predict how severe each patient's symptoms and outcomes might be.
Studies are ongoing, but there is not enough evidence at this time to support this finding and no scientific consensus whether or not calprotectin can serve as a prediction of how serious the virus will be in some patients. Researchers will continue studying calprotectin in COVID-19 patients, but for now, calprotectin is still used primarily as a way for doctors to see if patients have inflammation in their intestines.
Calprotectin is a type of protein that is released into the body by neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). Neutrophils help heal damaged tissues and stop infections from spreading. When there is any type of swelling in a person, the amount of neutrophils produced by the immune system increases naturally, in order to help protect and defend the body.
When there is inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (the digestive system in humans and animals that help them digest, absorb, and discard food and liquids), neutrophils move to that area and release the calprotectin protein to help protect and defend the body. Because of this, studies have shown that increased levels of calprotectin in the body are linked to higher levels of inflammation in the GI tract, so calprotectin levels are often tested in people with gastrointestinal issues to determine whether or not they have illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease or other infections.
Despite calprotectin normally being used as a marker for inflammation in the intestines, new research claims that measuring levels of this protein might help determine whether or not people who have tested positive for the coronavirus may develop more severe symptoms. Recent research in a pre-print study and a Letter to the Editor (in the Journal of Infection) shows a potential link between the levels of calprotectin in people infected with COVID-19 and more severe cases of the virus.
In another pre-print study (which should not be used to guide medical treatments or practices) researchers found a potential link between higher levels of calprotectin in the body of COVID-19 patients with a higher number of patients who require breathing support with a ventilator (a machine that makes sure your body gets enough oxygen by moving air in and out a patient's lungs).
Both of the studies suggest that testing levels of calprotectin in people with the virus might help doctors predict how severe each patient's symptoms and outcomes might be.
Studies are ongoing, but there is not enough evidence at this time to support this finding and no scientific consensus whether or not calprotectin can serve as a prediction of how serious the virus will be in some patients. Researchers will continue studying calprotectin in COVID-19 patients, but for now, calprotectin is still used primarily as a way for doctors to see if patients have inflammation in their intestines.
Context and background
Due to recent pre-print studies about calprotectin in COVID-19 patients, many people in the medical and scientific fields are questioning if neutrophils (the white blood cells that release calprotectin) can help doctors predict which patients with COVID-19 might get more sick or develop more difficulty breathing than others. There is no consensus and not enough information to show whether or not calprotectin can help doctors in this way, but researchers are studying the protein in COVID-19 patients now.
Some scientists have put forward the idea that calprotectin is linked to inflammation in the body, though usually in the intestines, and are trying to create medications that focus on the protein to decrease inflammation in COVID-19 patients.
One such pharmaceutical company is named Blade Therapeutics and they have begun phase 2 of clinical trials for a medication designed for COVID-19 patients. This medication, called BLD-2660, tries to stop the immune system from overreacting to the virus and causing organ damage, and it also works to lower the amount of calprotectin in the body. The company hopes that by decreasing the levels of calprotectin, they can help the immune system fight off inflammation and help patients have less severe cases of the virus. It is still too early to tell whether this medication will be successful, but the focus on calprotectin as a marker of inflammation is linked to earlier findings in gastro-enterology studies.
Due to recent pre-print studies about calprotectin in COVID-19 patients, many people in the medical and scientific fields are questioning if neutrophils (the white blood cells that release calprotectin) can help doctors predict which patients with COVID-19 might get more sick or develop more difficulty breathing than others. There is no consensus and not enough information to show whether or not calprotectin can help doctors in this way, but researchers are studying the protein in COVID-19 patients now.
Some scientists have put forward the idea that calprotectin is linked to inflammation in the body, though usually in the intestines, and are trying to create medications that focus on the protein to decrease inflammation in COVID-19 patients.
One such pharmaceutical company is named Blade Therapeutics and they have begun phase 2 of clinical trials for a medication designed for COVID-19 patients. This medication, called BLD-2660, tries to stop the immune system from overreacting to the virus and causing organ damage, and it also works to lower the amount of calprotectin in the body. The company hopes that by decreasing the levels of calprotectin, they can help the immune system fight off inflammation and help patients have less severe cases of the virus. It is still too early to tell whether this medication will be successful, but the focus on calprotectin as a marker of inflammation is linked to earlier findings in gastro-enterology studies.
Resources
- Elevated calprotectin and abnormal myeloid cell subsets discriminate severe from mild COVID-19 (Cell Pre-Proof)
- Faecal calprotectin indicates intestinal inflammation in COVID-19 (BMJ)
- Neutrophil calprotectin identifies severe pulmonary disease in COVID-19 (PAHO)
- Neutrophil calprotectin identifies severe pulmonary disease in COVID-19 (medRxiv)
- Blade Therapeutics updates enrolment progress for Covid-19 pneumonia study of BLD-2660 (PBR)
- Calprotectin (Circa)
- Neutrophil extracellular traps and thrombosis in COVID-19 (medRxiv)
- Outcome prediction by serum calprotectin in patients with COVID-19 in the emergency department (Journal of Infection)
- Elevated calprotectin and abnormal myeloid cell subsets discriminate severe from mild COVID-19 (Cell Pre-Proof)
- Faecal calprotectin indicates intestinal inflammation in COVID-19 (BMJ)
- Neutrophil calprotectin identifies severe pulmonary disease in COVID-19 (PAHO)
- Neutrophil calprotectin identifies severe pulmonary disease in COVID-19 (medRxiv)
- Blade Therapeutics updates enrolment progress for Covid-19 pneumonia study of BLD-2660 (PBR)
- Calprotectin (Circa)
- Neutrophil extracellular traps and thrombosis in COVID-19 (medRxiv)
- Outcome prediction by serum calprotectin in patients with COVID-19 in the emergency department (Journal of Infection)
