Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40191210›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2025

Patients with post-COVID-19 condition show minor blood transcriptomic changes, with altered erythrocyte gene expression in a male subgroup.

Piia Karisola, Mari Kanerva, Aki Vuokko, Helena Liira, Shuyuan Wang, Kirsi Kvarnström, Mikko Varonen, Hille Suojalehto, Harri Alenius

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Piia KarisolaHuman Microbiome (HUMI) Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Mari KanervaDepartment of Infection Control, TYKS Turku University Hospital, The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland.
Aki VuokkoOccupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Helena LiiraOutpatient Clinic for Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Shuyuan WangHuman Microbiome (HUMI) Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Kirsi KvarnströmOutpatient Clinic for Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Mikko VaronenOutpatient Clinic for Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Hille SuojalehtoOccupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Harri AleniusHuman Microbiome (HUMI) Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The mechanisms underlying persistent symptoms after non-severe COVID-19 remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate transcriptomic changes in peripheral blood cells of patients with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and assess if distinct clinical subtypes with specific gene signatures could be identified. Methods: The cohort included 111 PCC patients from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant era, with 57 recovered (Recov) and 54 having prolonged symptoms indicative of PCC. The results were compared to 63 healthy controls (Ctrl) without known SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical data included patient assessments, laboratory results, comorbidities, and questionnaires on quality of life and functioning. Transcriptomic analysis and cellular deconvolution methods were used on total RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Results: PCC patients had more comorbidities (mean 1.3) and more frequently (59%) at least one comorbidity than recovered patients (31%) and controls (24%). Overall, past COVID-19 illness or current PCC symptoms caused minimal changes in the blood cell transcriptome, with only 3-6 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified across comparisons. However, a subset of male PCC patients exhibited an increased fraction of deconvoluted erythroblasts and significant genome-wide gene expression changes, with 399 DEGs compared to recovered and control males. These genes were enriched in pathways related to heme metabolism and gas exchange in erythrocytes. Conclusions: Persistent symptoms in PCC are multifactorial and not directly linked to peripheral blood cell gene expression changes. However, a subgroup of male PCC patients shows distinct erythrocyte responses that may contribute to long-term symptoms.

Indexed as

COVID-19ErythrocytesSARS-CoV-2TranscriptomeAdultAgedFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHumansLeukocytes, MononuclearMaleMiddle AgedQuality of Lifebioinformaticserythrocyte (human)post-COVID-19 conditionSARS-CoV-2transcriptomics

Identifiers

PMID40191210
PMCPMC11968430

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.