Predictive biomarkers of COVID-19 impact in renal transplant patients: an exploratory proteomic and cytokine analysis - Report - MDSpire

Predictive biomarkers of COVID-19 impact in renal transplant patients: an exploratory proteomic and cytokine analysis

  • By

  • Ayodele Alaiya

  • Maha Al-Mozaini

  • Zakia Shinwari

  • Abdulaziz Alzayed

  • Ibtihaj Alsharif

  • Rabab Allam

  • Razan Bakheet

  • Layla Alharbi

  • Fahad Ojab Alotaibi

  • Jumana Idris

  • Dalia A. Obeid

  • Abeer Alshukairi

  • Marcela Márquez-Méndez

  • Ricardo M. Cerda-Flores

  • Hamad A. Almojalli

  • June 12, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Proteomic and Cytokine Biomarkers in COVID-19 Outcomes in RTPs

Overview

This study identifies immune and proteomic biomarkers associated with COVID-19 in renal transplant patients (RTPs). Significant differences in cytokine levels were observed between healthy controls and RTPs affected by COVID-19, with potential biomarkers identified for disease risk and severity.

Background

Renal transplant recipients are at heightened risk for severe COVID-19 complications due to immunosuppressive therapy. Understanding the immune and proteomic responses in this population is crucial for improving disease management and outcomes. This study aims to characterize these responses to inform future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Data Highlights

FindingValue
Cytokine levels differ between healthy controls and RTP-COVIDp = 0.04
No significant difference between healthy controls and uninfected RTPsp = 0.92
Cytokine expression varies by disease severity in RTP-COVIDp = 0.04
No difference in cytokine expression between acute and recovery phasesp = 0.39

Key Findings

  • Eighteen altered protein targets identified in RTP-COVID patients.
  • Eight proteins associated with RTP-COVID may serve as candidate biomarkers.
  • Ten proteins uniquely differentially expressed between RTPs and healthy controls.
  • Cytokine levels significantly differ between healthy controls and RTP-COVID patients.
  • Small sample size limits generalizability of findings.

Clinical Implications

The identification of specific cytokines and proteins may aid in assessing COVID-19 risk and severity in renal transplant recipients. These findings could inform future research and clinical strategies for managing COVID-19 in this vulnerable population.

Conclusion

This exploratory analysis highlights potential biomarkers related to COVID-19 outcomes in renal transplant recipients, warranting further validation in larger cohorts.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Analysis of the predictive value of Th17/Treg cells and cytokines for the risk of infection after kidney transplantation
  2. Infection, 2021 -- Outcomes and Risk Factors Associated with Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2
  3. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism -- Proteomic Analysis of Plasma in Diabetic Kidney Disease Among Asians With Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes
  4. IDSA 2025 Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines for the Prevention of Seasonal COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
  5. Intensive Care Medicine — Discovery and validation of persistent acute kidney injury biomarkers: insights from the RUBY study
  6. IDSA 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update on COVID-19 Treatment
  7. IDSA 2025 Guidelines on the Use of Vaccines for the Prevention of Seasonal COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
  8. Host-microbe multiomic profiling identifies distinct COVID-19 immune dysregulation in solid organ transplant recipients | Nature Communications

Original Source(s)

Predictive biomarkers of COVID-19 impact in renal transplant patients: an exploratory proteomic and cytokine analysis

  • by Ayodele Alaiya, Maha Al-Mozaini, Zakia Shinwari, Abdulaziz Alzayed, Ibtihaj Alsharif, Rabab Allam, Razan Bakheet, Layla Alharbi, Fahad Ojab Alotaibi, Jumana Idris, Dalia A. Obeid, Abeer Alshukairi, Marcela Márquez-Méndez, Ricardo M. Cerda-Flores, Hamad A. Almojalli

  • June 12, 2026

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