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COVID-19

Identifying the Central Element in Long COVID: Research Uncovers Key Protein and Sex Differences

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Scientists from a research team led by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the mechanisms behind long COVID. By analyzing blood samples from nearly 200 participants using high-resolution proteomics technology, the researchers identified the protein VEGFA as a central element in long COVID. The study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, also revealed that the expression of this protein is significantly higher in postmenopausal women who developed long COVID.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team, led by IGTP, identified the protein VEGFA as a key element in long COVID, which is linked to blood vessel formation and vascular function.
  • The study revealed that VEGFA is significantly overexpressed in individuals who developed long COVID, particularly in postmenopausal women.
  • The researchers found that sex and hormonal status may influence the progression of long COVID, highlighting the importance of incorporating sex-stratified approaches into clinical management.
  • The study also points to possible muscle damage and alterations in pathways related to inflammation, chemokine signalling, and viral reactivation.
  • The discovery opens the door to new therapeutic strategies, including treatments aimed at stabilising vascular function.
  • The COVICAT cohort, created in 2020, played a crucial role in the study, enabling the analysis of blood samples from 171 participants.
  • Rafael de Cid, scientific director of GCAT and principal investigator of the study at IGTP, emphasized the importance of considering hormonal status in the development of future treatments.

Statistics:

  • 171 participants were included in the study, which analyzed blood samples using high-resolution proteomics technology.
  • The researchers studied nearly 1,400 proteins related to inflammation and cardiovascular health, comparing levels between individuals with and without long COVID, and among pre- and postmenopausal women.
  • 5 years have passed since the creation of the COVICAT cohort, which remains active and has enabled the analysis of long-term effects of COVID-19.
  • The study was supported by Fundacio La Marato de 3CAT.

Sources:

  • "Our findings suggest that vascular dysfunction is a key mechanism in long COVID and that sex and hormonal status may influence its progression". (Xavier Farre, GCAT-IGTP researcher and first author of the study)
  • Reuters/AFP News Agency
  • Journal BMC Medicine [1]
  • Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute [2]

References:

[1] Farre X et al. (2025). "Molecular alterations associated with prolonged COVID-19" BMC Medicine, 23, 1–12. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-03072-7

[2] Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from

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