Expression and Correlation Analysis of Neuropeptide Family Members in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with COVID-19.

Publication date: Jun 09, 2026

The purpose of this article is to investigate the expression of neuropeptide family members and their correlation with inflammatory indicators in the peripheral blood of children infected with COVID-19. Blood samples were collected from 40 hospitalized newly diagnosed children with confirmed COVID-19 infection and 17 hospitalized children with non-COVID-19 bronchial pneumonia during the same period. Baseline clinical data were collected and analyzed. Expression and correlation analysis of neuropeptide-related molecules [ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme), ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2), ASCL1 (achaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 1)] in peripheral blood were detected and analyzed by ELISA. Complete blood counts with differentials, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), liver enzymes, Substance P (SP), Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), and Gastrin-Releasing Peptide (GRP) were also measured. The results of 40 COVID-19 patients (43% males) and 17 non-COVID-19 patients (71% males) were compared. ACE2 in non-COVID-19 and moderate COVID-19 groups was higher than that in severe groups (p=0. 04; p=0. 03, respectively). ASCL1 in the non-COVID-19 group was higher than that in the COVID-19 group (p=0. 04). ASCL1 in the non-COVID group was higher than that in the severe COVID group (p=0. 02). There were no significant differences in SP, VIP, and GRP between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups. ASCL1 correlated negatively with blood neutrophils (%) (r = -0. 534, p

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