Gut Barrier Disruption in Post-COVID Fatigue Raw sequence reads
Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS) is characterized by persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), as well as orthostatic, autonomic, and neurocognitive dysregulation. It occurs following SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of the severity of the disease course. Estimates suggest that approximately 10% of individuals develop PCS after COVID-19. Our study found that pre-existing gastrointestinal (GI) issues significantly increase the risk of developing PCS Fatigue. Patients with PCS Fatigue showed higher levels of inflammatory markers (LBP/sCD14 ratio and IL-6), lower IL-33 levels, and signs of GI barrier dysfunction, including low-grade intestinal inflammation. These findings suggest that viral infection disrupts pathways related to the innate immune response and GI barrier function, as evidenced by intestinal low-grade inflammation and GI barrier leakage. Monitoring GI symptoms and markers before, during, and after SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for identifying predictive clinical phenotypes in PCS. Understanding the interaction between viral infections, immune responses, and gut integrity could lead to more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies, ultimately reducing the burden on PCS Fatigue patients. Sequencing was performed at the Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna under the project ID JMF-2411-08.