Unveiling COVID-19 Secrets: Harnessing Cytokines as Powerful Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Predicting Severity

• Main Authors: Wolszczak-Biedrzycka B (Author), Dorf J (Author), Wojewódzka-Żelezniakowicz M (Author), Żendzian-Piotrowska M (Author), Dymicka-Piekarska VJ (Author), Matowicka-Karna J (Author), Maciejczyk M (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Dove Medical Press, 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,1 Justyna Dorf,2 Marzena Wojewódzka-Żelezniakowicz,3 Małgorzata Żendzian-Piotrowska,4 Violetta Joanna Dymicka-Piekarska,2 Joanna Matowicka-Karna,2 Mateusz Maciejczyk4 1Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, 10-900, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-089, Poland; 3Department of Emergency Medicine and Disasters, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-089, Poland; 4Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-089, PolandCorrespondence: Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka, Email [e-mail]: In coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inflammation takes center stage, with a cascade of cytokines released, contributing to both inflammation and lung damage. The objective of this study is to identify biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting the severity of COVID-19.Materials and Methods: Cytokine levels were determined in the serum from venous blood samples collected from 100 patients with COVID-19 and 50 healthy controls. COVID-19 patients classified based on the Modified Early Warning (MEWS) score. Cytokine concentrations were determined with a multiplex ELISA kit (Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cytokine Screening Panel).Results: The concentrations of all analyzed cytokines were elevated in the serum of COVID-19 patients relative to the control group, but no significant differences were observed in interleukin-9 (IL-9) and IL-12 p70 levels. In addition, the concentrations of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2Rα, IL-6, IL-12 p40, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were significantly higher in symptomatic patients with accompanying pneumonia without respiratory failure (stage 2) than in asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic patients (stage 1).Conclusion: The study revealed that IL-1ra, IL-2Rα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 p40, IL-16, and IL-18 levels serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, elevated IL-1α levels proved to be valuable in assessing the severity of COVID-19.Keywords: cytokines, COVID-19, MEWS score, biomarkers, severity, diagnosis

Item Description

1178-7031