VEGFA sex-specific signature is associated to long COVID symptom persistence.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Longitudinal non-randomized cohort study comparing proteomic profiles across two time points
PubMed 41074076 · doi:10.1186/s12916-025-04402-6
What was done
Researchers conducted proteomic profiling of 1395 protein biomarkers using Olink technology across two time points in 171 individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (including 133 long COVID patients) from the COVICAT cohort. Linear mixed models, gene set enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction networks were used to assess changes across long COVID status, sex, and hormonal status.
What was found
VEGFA was significantly overexpressed in long COVID patients (effect size 0.322, SE = 0.098, p = 0.0013) and had the highest centrality in a network of 109 nodes and 274 edges. VEGFA was significantly overexpressed specifically in postmenopausal women (Mann-Whitney U test p = 8.55 x 10^-3). Dysregulated chemokine signaling, complement activation, and viral reactivation were also confirmed.
Why it matters
This study links vascular dysfunction through VEGFA upregulation to long COVID persistence and identifies sex- and hormone-specific proteomic patterns that may clarify differing recovery trajectories.
Limits
The sample size is limited to 171 individuals, and exact timing of post-infection visits or symptom severities are not fully specified in the abstract. As an observational study, it identifies associations rather than direct causation.
Cited by
- supports Elevated VEGF levels occur in Long COVID, Bartonella infections, and cancer.
- context Bartonella infection induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) elevation in long COVID patients.