Dettaglio Progetto Finanziato

ECLIPSE

L’Ente Capofila del progetto è IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA Società Benefit. Il Responsabile Scientifico del progetto è il Professor Antonio Spanevello.

Long COVID is a complex multisystem syndrome; the related mechanisms remain largely unknown. Cardiopulmonary and gut manifestations are among the long-term symptoms of COVID. Both manifestations are also reported to be associated with low-grade chronic inflammation mediated by immunological dysregulations. Indeed, mast and T-cells are gut-resident immune cells, and persistent SARS-CoV-2 intestinal infection can lead to their activation. Given this evidence, the research proposal is aimed to explore how these factors interact.  In particular, a trivariate model will be used to determine how immune system changes and intestinal involvement mediate the effects of COVID-19 infection on cardiopulmonary function. Specifically, we aim to identify a disease molecular signature by integrating blood-derived genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic changes with the activation of the gut-immune axis. In addition, prospectively, in a subgroup of Long COVID patients undergoing colonoscopy for clinical reasons, we will perform single-cell analyses on intestinal biopsies to explore the phenotypic characteristics of gut-resident leukocytes. These molecular findings will be correlated with the clinical characteristics of patients. This approach will help us understand the underlying mechanisms and develop potential intervention and treatment strategies.