Identification of a protein expression signature distinguishing early from organising diffuse alveolar damage in COVID-19 patients

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Helen Ashwin, Luke Milross, Julie Wilson, Joaquim Majo, Jimmy Tsz Hang Lee, Grant Calder, Bethany Hunter, Sally James, Dimitris Lagos, Nathalie Signoret, Andrew Filby, Omer Ali Bayraktar, Andrew J. Fisher, Paul M. Kaye

Published: 13 Dec 2022, Last Modified: 05 Nov 2025CrossrefEveryoneRevisionsCC BY-SA 4.0
Abstract: h3>ABSTRACT</h3> <p>Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) is a histopathological finding associated with severe viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. However, the mechanisms mediating progression of DAD are poorly understood. Applying protein digital spatial profiling to lung tissue obtained from a cohort of 27 COVID-19 autopsy cases from the UK, we identified a protein signature (ARG1, CD127, GZMB, IDO1, Ki67, phospho-PRAS40 (T246), and VISTA that distinguishes early / exudative DAD from late / organising DAD with good predictive accuracy. These proteins warrant further investigation as potential immunotherapeutic targets to modulate DAD progression and improve patient outcome.</p>