Analysis of Relative Average Length of Telomeres in Leukocytes of Women with COVID-19

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by a new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. A global vaccination program against SARS-CoV-2 continues, and the incidence of COVID-19 worldwide is significantly decreasing. However, among millions of those who survived COVID-19, numerous groups will need assistance due to increased clinical consequences after COVID-19. Currently, there is a need to search for molecular biomarkers for monitoring the onset and progression of post-COVID syndrome. For this purpose, the relative average length of chromosome regions was studied in the groups of women of reproductive age: in the group of patients (n = 64) recovered from COVID-19 and in the control group (n = 42) of women of the same age. The analysis was carried out using a method of multiplex monochrome quantitative real-time PCR on DNA samples isolated from the peripheral blood leukocytes. According to the results of the study, it was established that the relative average length of chromosomes in the peripheral blood leukocytes was statistically significantly lower in the group of patients with COVID-19 than in the control group (p < 0.05). The results obtained allow one to state that the observed shortening of the relative average length of telomeres in the group of patients that recovered from COVID-19 can indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection can directly cause the erosion of telomeres in the blood cells, particularly, in leukocytes. Thus, the determination of the relative average length of telomeres can be an informative prognostic marker for estimating the risk of the severity of COVID-19 disease and the development of post-COVID syndrome.