SARS-CoV-2-induced hypomethylation of the ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) gene underlies serum hyperferritinemia in severe COVID-19 patients.

ABSTRACT: High serum ferritin (hyperferritinemia), a reliable hallmark of severe COVID-19 often associates with a moderate decrease in serum iron (hypoferremia) and a moderate increase in serum hepcidin. This suggests that hyperferritinemia in severe COVID-19 is reflective of inflammation rather than iron overload. To test this possibility, the expression status of ferritin heavy chain (FTH1), transferrin receptor 1 (TFRC), hepcidin (HAMP), and ferroportin (SLC40A1) genes and promoter methylation status of FTH1 and TFRC genes were examined in blood samples obtained from COVID-19 patients showing no, mild or severe symptoms and in healthy-donor monocytes stimulated with SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides. Severe COVID-19 samples showed a significant increase in FTH1 expression and hypomethylation relative t

SUBMITTER: Muhammad JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9509293 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature