Association of Vitamin D with Severity and Outcome of COVID-19: Clinical and Experimental Evidence.

Introduction: The role of vitamin in COVID-19 remains controversial. We investigated the association between endogenous vitamin D and the severity of COVID-19 as well as the mechanisms of action of vitamin D supplementation.

Methods: 25(OH)D3 in serum was associated with disease severity and outcome in 190 COVID-19 patients.

Deficiency of hydrogen sulfide production and pregnancy rate in an experimental model: Association with preterm delivery.

Problem: Pro-inflammatory phenomena drive preterm delivery (PTD). Hydrogen sulfide is a gasotransmitter with anti-inflammatory properties produced through the activity of the enzyme cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), and its impact was studied in models of normal delivery and PTD in mice.

Method Of Study: Female CSE and CSE mice were mated with male CSE mice; mating was done with drinking water unsupplemented and supplemented with cysteine.

Dimethyl itaconate induces long-term innate immune responses and confers protection against infection.

Itaconate is an immunomodulatory metabolite produced by immune cells under microbial stimulation and certain pro-inflammatory conditions and triggers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. We show that dimethyl itaconate, a derivative of itaconate previously linked to suppression of inflammation and widely employed as an alternative to the endogenous metabolite, can induce long-term transcriptional, epigenomic, and metabolic changes, characteristic of trained immunity. Dimethyl itaconate alters glycolytic and mitochondrial energetic metabolism, ultimately leading to increased responsiveness to microbial ligand stimulation.

IL-1 Mediates Tissue-Specific Inflammation and Severe Respiratory Failure in COVID-19.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 has been associated with catastrophic inflammation. We present measurements in humans and a new animal model implicating a role in danger-associated molecular patterns. Calprotectin (S100A8/A9) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were measured in patients without/with ARDS, and admission calprotectin was associated with soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR).