Serum metabolomic abnormalities in survivors of non-severe COVID-19

Abstract

Metabolic reprogramming is a distinctive characteristic of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which refers to metabolic changes in hosts triggered by viruses for their survival and spread. It is current urgent to understand the metabolic health status of COVID-19 survivors and its association with long-term health consequences of infection, especially for the predominant non-severe patients. Herein, we show systemic metabolic signatures of survivors of non-severe COVID-19 from Wuhan, China at six months after discharge using metabolomics approaches. The serum amino acids, organic acids, purine, fatty acids and lipid metabolism were still abnormal in the survivors, but the kynurenine pathway and the level of itaconic acid have returned to normal. These metabolic abnormalities are associated with liver injury, mental health, energy production, and inflammatory responses. Our findings identify and highlight the metabolic abnormalities in survivors of non-severe COVID-19, which provide information on biomarkers and therapeutic targets of infection and cues for post-hospital care and intervention strategies centered on metabolism reprogramming.