High Levels of Circulating IL-6 and IL-8 Signature can Predict COVID-19 Severity

• Published in: Jundishapur journal of microbiology Vol. 14; no. 10; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Ozgür, Didem, Karamese, Murat, Medetalibeyoglu, Alpay, Alkan, Onur, Senkal, Naci, Tutuncu, Emin Ediz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ahvaz Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Chemokines; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cytokine storm; Dyspnea; Epidemics; Growth factors; Infections; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Laboratories; Males; Mortality; Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; Neutrophils; Pandemics; Respiratory diseases; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Steroids; Variables; Ventilators; China; Turkey
• ISSN: 2008-3645; 2008-4161
• DOI: 10.5812/jjm.119060

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may trigger a cytokine storm, which is characterized by uncontrolled overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 46 severe and 32 mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients. The serum levels of cytokines and chemokines were determined using the Bio-Plex ProTM Human Cytokine Screening Panel. Results: Out of a total of 78 patients with confirmed COVID-19, 54 (69.2%) were males, and 24 (30.8%) were females. The mean age was 43.1 ± 13.3 and 58.2 ± 15 in mild and severe patients, respectively. Severe patients were characterized by significant laboratory abnormalities, such as increased WBC (P = 0.002) and neutrophil counts (P = 0.001), higher levels of ALT (P = 0.03), AST (P = 0.002), LDH (P < 0.001), urea (P = 0.013), ferritin (P < 0.001), D-dimer (P = 0.042), CRP (P < 0.001), and decreased lymphocyte (P < 0.001) and platelet (P = 0.045) counts. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MIP-1β, and MCP-1 increased in the severe group compared to the mild group. However, significant differences were observed only for IL-6 (P < 0.001) and IL-8 (P < 0.001) levels. Conclusions: Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels can be used as potential prognostic biomarkers of disease severity in COVID-19 patients.