Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in leucocytes as post‐COVID‐19 sequelae

• Published in: Journal of leukocyte biology Vol. 112; no. 1; pp. 23 - 29
• Main Authors: Díaz‐Resendiz, Karina Janice Guadalupe, Benitez‐Trinidad, Alma Betsaida, Covantes‐Rosales, Carlos Eduardo, Toledo‐Ibarra, Gladys Alejandra, Ortiz‐Lazareno, Pablo Cesar, Girón‐Pérez, Daniel Alberto, Bueno‐Durán, Adela Yolanda, Pérez‐Díaz, Daniela Alejandra, Barcelos‐García, Rocío Guadalupe, Girón‐Pérez, Manuel Iván
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.07.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Complications; COVID-19; leucocytes; Leukocytes; Membrane potential; Membranes; Mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane potential; Parameters; response sex‐associated; SARS‐CoV‐2; SARS-CoV-2; response sex-associated; leucocytes; mitochondrial membrane potential
• ISSN: 0741-5400; 1938-3673; 1938-3673
• DOI: 10.1002/JLB.3MA0322-279RRR

The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) is a parameter often used to determine mitochondrial function; therefore, it can be used to determine the integrity and functionality of cells. A decrement of ΔΨm is implicated in several inflammatory‐related pathologies, such phenomena can be related to COVID‐19 infection. The present work aimed to compare the ΔΨm in leucocytes (human PBMCs; HPBMC) isolated from healthy control (HC) subjects, patients with COVID‐19 (C‐19), recovered subjects at 40 ± 13 (R1) and 335 ± 20 (R2) days after infection (dai). Obtained data showed that ΔΨm decreased in HPBMC of subjects with C‐19, R1, and R2 compared with HC. When analyzing the ΔΨm data by sex, in females, a significant decrease was observed in R1 and R2 groups versus HC. Regarding men, a significant decrease of ΔΨm was observed in R1, with respect to HC, contrary to R2 group, who reestablished this parameter. Obtained results suggest that the loss of ΔΨm could be related to the long‐COVID. Graphical Patients recovered from COVID‐19 present loss of the ΔΨm in HPBMC, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is associated with the onset and progression of several chronic diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. Therefore, determining the ΔΨm in patients recovered from SARS‐CoV‐2 could be an early sign of several diseases caused by post‐COVID‐19 sequelae.