The diagnostic value of the mRNA of the Januskinase-2 (JAK2) gene as a marker of the activity of the JAK signaling pathway in COVID-19 was evaluated. We also used the identification of the activating somatic mutation JAK2V617F as a witness to clonal hematopoiesis of undetermined potential.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the V617F JAK2 mutation and the level of JAK2 mRNA expression in venous blood in patients with COVID-19 infection of varying severity.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study included anonymous (blind) blood samples from 61 patients admitted to a Covid hospital with confirmed COVID-19 infection. As a control, we used 39 blood samples from volunteers and blood donors collected before of the epidemic. Venous blood samples were taken in the first 10 days from the day of hospitalization in tubes with RNA stabilizer. The isolation of mRNA was carried out using a set of reagents «Ribo-sol-D», and reverse transcription was performed using a set of reagents «Revert-L» (Central Institute of Epidemiology Rospotrebnadzor of Russia) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Determination of the mRNA expression level of the JAK2 gene, as well as the JAK2 V617F mutation by RT-PCR, was performed using the kits of Formula Gena LLC (Russia).
RESULTS
The JAK2 V617F mutation was not detected in any of the COVID-19 patient samples. The mRNA expression level the JAK2 gene in blood samples from patients with COVID-19 was characterized by high variation, while the expression indicators were significantly reduced in patients with COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS
Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, no persons with V617F JAK2 somatic mutation were identified. The high variation and reduced median values of the mRNA expression level of the JAK2 gene in COVID-19 indicates the involvement of the JAK2 signaling pathway and will be the subject of further research, including it’s estimation as a criterion for prescribing and evaluating the effectiveness of Janus kinase inhibitors.
