Peculiarities of phospholipiid changes in erythrocyte membranes in parturient women with COVID-19-associated community-acquired pneumonia

Aim. To evaluate the phospholipid composition of erythrocyte membranes in parturient women who had COVID-19-associated community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the third trimester.

Materials and methods. The material for the study was erythrocytes of peripheral blood of 65 parturient women diagnosed with COVID-19, moderate/severe course, CAP of viral etiology (main group). Patients of the main group, depending on the severity of CAP, were divided into two subgroups: subgroup 1 – moderate course of pneumonia (n=33), subgroup 2 – severe course of pneumonia (n=32). The control group consisted of 35 healthy parturient women. The quantitative composition of phospholipids was studied by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography according to Kirchner.

Results. In subgroup 1, the concentration of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine in erythrocyte membranes was below the standard values by 38% and 29%, respectively (p<0.001), in subgroup 2, these indicators decreased by 32% and 48%, respectively (p<0.001). At the same time, a significant increase in the concentration of lysophosphatidylcholine was found in patients of subgroup 1 by 92% (p<0.001) and in patients of subgroup 2 by 110% (p<0.001), compared with the group of healthy individuals. In addition, structural changes in the lipid bilayer of erythrocyte membranes under conditions of COVID-19associated CAP were characterized by a pronounced increase in the concentration of minor fractions of phospholipids: phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol in subgroup 1 by 63% and 53%, respectively (p<0.001), in subgroup 2 by 79% and 68%, respectively (p<0.001), compared with similar indicators in the control group.

Conclusion. With COVID19-associated CAP in maternity women, structural disorganization of the phospholipid components of erythrocyte membranes is determined, manifested by a decrease in the concentration of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine with a simultaneous increase in the level of lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. These disorders increase with increasing severity of pulmonary inflammation. The revealed changes in the lipid spectrum of peripheral blood and the composition of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids in COVID-19-associated CAP indicate the need to develop methods for their correction.

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