Cytokine Storm Signature in Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19

Abstract

Hypercytokinemia, found in SARS-CoV-2 infection, contributes to multiple organ dysfunctions with acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock etc. The aim of this study was to describe cytokine storm signatures in patients with acute COVID-19 and to investigate their influence on severity of the infection. Plasma levels of 47 cytokines were investigated in 73 patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 (41 and 32, respectively) and 11 healthy donors (HD). The most elevated levels comparing patients and the HD were observed for seven pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, IL-18, IL-27, IFNγ, TNFα), three chemokines (GROα, IP-10, MIG), two anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1RA, IL-10), and two growth factors (G-CSF, M-CSF). The patients with severe disease had significantly higher levels of FGF-2/FGF-basic, IL-1β, and IL-7 compared to the HD. The two groups of patients differed from each other only based on the levels of EGF, eotaxin, and IL-12 p40. Pneumonia lung injury, characterized by computer tomography, positively correlated with levels of EGF, IP-10, MCP-3 levels and negatively with IL-12 p40. Pro-inflammatory factors including IL-6, TNFα, and IP-10 negatively correlated with the frequency of the circulating T-helper17-like cells (Th17-like) and follicular Th cells that are crucial to develop SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells and memory B cells. Obtained data on the cytokine levels illustrate their influence on progression and severity of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Heart Lesions in Children: Clinical, Diagnostic and Immunological Changes

“…Type 3 cellular immune response (mediated by Th17 and neutrophils), aimed at eliminating extracellular bacteria and fungi, is characterized by an influx of neutrophils from the peripheral blood into the inflamed tissue, as well as the activation of barrier tissue cells (primarily mucosal epithelial cells) with increased mucus production and antimicrobial protective factors [ 77 ]. It should be noted that the level of these key polarizing cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) especially increases in the acute phase of the infectious process, caused SARS-CoV-2, that can serve as additional markers of the severity of the disease [ 83 , 84 , 85 ].…”

Prognostic Value of Magnesium in COVID-19: Findings from the COMEPA Study

“…Indeed, this exuberant inflammatory response may initially be appropriate to control the infection, but if uncontrolled and persistent, it can fuel the multi-organ dysfunction that may follow, increasing the risk of mortality. The cascade of inflammatory mediators during cytokine storm includes immunoactive molecules, e.g., interferon, chemokines, interleukins, TNF-alpha, and colony-stimulating factors [ 47 ].…”

A specific anti‐COVID‐19 BNT162b2 vaccine‐induced early innate immune signature positively correlates with the humoral protective response in healthy and multiple sclerosis vaccine recipients

“…These serum factors were selected among around 40 different inflammatory mediators that were measured. Some of them significantly increased at T2 + 1d but were not further investigated, including the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or plateletderived growth factor (PDGF)-AA that were found elevated in sera of COVID-19 patients 14 ; or cytokines such as IL-12p40, IL-17 and IL-27 linked to Th1 and Th17 T-cell differentiation important for a prompt vaccine-specific cellular response. 15 In particular, IL-12p40 has already been described by Bergamaschi et al among those serum factors induced early after the second vaccination dose.…”