The Activin/FLRG Pathway Associates with Poor COVID-19 Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

A subset of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly the aged and those with comorbidities, develop the most severe form of the disease, characterized by Acute Respiratory Disease Syndrome (ARDS), coincident with experiencing a “cytokine storm.” Here, we demonstrate that cytokines which activate the NF-κB pathway can induce activin A. Patients with elevated activin A, activin B, and FLRG at hospital admission were associated with the most severe outcomes of COVID-19, including the requirement for mechanical ventilation, and all-cause mortality.