Elevated Neuregulin-1 in Severe COVID-19

Background: Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) is a key molecule implicated in the treatment of psychosis. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been recognized as a potential risk factor for psychosis. This study investigated the association of NRG1 expression with SARS-CoV-2 infection and other clinicopathologic factors in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A total of 115 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled and categorized into 2 groups: severe cases (admitted to the ICU) and mild cases (non-ICU patients). NRG1 mRNA levels in serum were assessed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The relationship between NRG1 expression and clinical parameters was evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess the diagnostic potential of NRG1 expression in differentiating mild and severe cases. Results: NRG1 expression was significantly elevated in severe patients (1.54 ± 0.4) compared to mild patients (−2.67 ± 0.39) ( P value <0.0001). Moreover, NRG1 expression levels showed a significant correlation with symptoms such as shortness of breath and coughing. ROC curve analysis further demonstrated that elevated NRG1 levels could effectively differentiate between severe and mild COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: Elevated NRG1 expression is associated with severe COVID-19 cases. Early detection of NRG1 in the initial stages can be used as a biomarker to identify psychotic symptoms in COVID-19 patients, which can allow for timely initiation of interventions to prevent progression from an infectious disease to severe psychiatric status.