Specific cytokines in the inflammatory cytokine storm of patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome and extrapulmonary multiple-organ dysfunction

• Published in: Virology journal Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 1 - 117
• Main Authors: Wang, Jiajia, Yang, Xinjing, Li, Yongsheng, Huang, Jian-an, Jiang, Junhong, Su, Nan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 04.06.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Care and treatment; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Creatinine; Cytokine storm; Cytokines; Development and progression; Disease; Disseminated intravascular coagulation; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Health care; Hospitals; Immune response; Infections; Inflammation; Inflammatory cytokine; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Laboratories; Lymphocytes; Middle East respiratory syndrome; Mortality; Multiple-organ dysfunction; Patients; Pneumonia; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory distress syndrome; SARS-CoV-2; Sepsis; Serum levels; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Urea; China
• DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01588-y
• ISSN: 1743-422X

To date, specific cytokines associated with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and extrapulmonary multiple organ dysfunction (MOD) in COVID-19 patients have not been systematically described. We determined the levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with COVID-19 and their relationships with ARDS and extrapulmonary MOD. The clinical and laboratory data of 94 COVID-19 patients with and without ARDS were analyzed. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor [alpha] [TNF-[alpha]]) were measured on days 1, 3, and 5 following admission. Seventeen healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Correlations in the levels of inflammatory cytokines with clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed, furthermore, we also explored the relationships of different cytokines with ARDS and extrapulmonary MOD. The ARDS group had higher serum levels of all 4 inflammatory cytokines than the controls, and these levels steadily increased after admission. The ARDS group also had higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 than the non-ARDS group, and the levels of these cytokines correlated significantly with coagulation parameters and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-[alpha] correlated with the levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen, and were also higher in ARDS patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). All 4 inflammatory cytokines had negative correlations with PaO.sub.2/FiO.sub.2. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-[alpha] had positive correlations with the APACHE-II score. Relative to survivors, non-survivors had higher levels of IL-6 and IL-10 at admission, and increasing levels over time. The cytokine storm apparently contributed to the development of ARDS and extrapulmonary MOD in COVID-19 patients. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 correlated with DIC, and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-[alpha] were associated with AKI. Relative to survivors, patients who died within 28 days had increased levels of IL-6 and IL-10.