Show Notes
️ Episode 234: MTHFR genotype and methionine metabolism predict COVID-19 severity
In this episode of PaperCast Base by Base, we explore IMPACC longitudinal metabolomics and genomics analyses show that disruptions in one‑carbon/methionine metabolism together with MTHFR C677T genotype at hospital admission improve prediction of severe COVID‑19 and long COVID risk
Study Highlights:
IMPACC profiled plasma metabolites (global and targeted) from over 1,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and identified early alterations in one‑carbon metabolism, with emphasis on the methionine cycle. Methionine‑sulfoxide and S‑adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) were elevated in patients with more severe clinical trajectories and changed over serial visits. The common hypomorphic MTHFR C677T (AA) genotype associated with distinct methionine‑cycle metabolite profiles and, when combined with baseline methionine, methionine‑sulfoxide, and SAH levels, significantly improved mortality prediction versus genotype alone. The combined genotype–metabolite factor also stratified risk of long COVID across patient‑reported outcome clusters.
Conclusion:
Integrating MTHFR C677T status with early plasma methionine‑cycle metabolite measurements can enhance early risk stratification for severe COVID‑19 and long COVID.
Music:
Enjoy the music based on this article at the end of the episode.
Reference:
Petrova B, Syphur C, Montgomery RR, Levy O, Diray‑Arce J, Kleinstein SH, Kanarek N, Culhane AJ, Chen J, et al. MTHFR allele and one‑carbon metabolic profile predict severity of COVID‑19. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025;122(51):e2509118122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2509118122
License:
This episode is based on an open-access article published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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On PaperCast Base by Base you’ll discover the latest in genomics, functional genomics, structural genomics, and proteomics.
Episode link: https://basebybase.castos.com/episodes/mthfr-methionine-covid-risk
Episode Slug: mthfr-methionine-covid-risk
Keywords: mthfr, one-carbon metabolism, methionine, metabolomics, long covid
