High Circulating Levels of the Homeostatic Chemokines CXCL۱۲, CXCL۱۷, IL-۱b and IL-۱Ra Predict Mortality and Disease Severity in COVID-۱۹

Background: Immune dysregulation is a major factor in the development of severe coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹(COVID-۱۹). The homeostatic chemokines CXCL۱۲, CXCL۱۷, IL-۱b and IL-۱Ra have been implicated as mediators of tissue inflammation, but data on their regulation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲) infection is limited. We thus investigated the levels of these chemokines in COVID-۱۹ patients.Methods: Serial blood samples were obtained from patients hospitalized toAli ibn Abi Talib with COVID-۱۹(۳۰ patients COVID-۱۹ and ۳۰ controls). Changes in expression of CXCL۱۲, CXCL۱۷, IL-۱b and IL-۱Ra were determined by quantitative Real-Time PCR. The -actin was used as a reference gene and the expression of target genes one relative to its expression. Relative expression was calculated using the comparative ۲- Ct formula.Data were also analyzed by t-test and ANOVA using Test of a p value less than۰.۰۵ was considered significant.Results: A consistent increase in circulating levels of CXCL۱۲, CXCL۱۷, IL-۱b and IL-۱Ra was observed, with high levels correlating with disease severity measures, including respiratory failure, need for intensive care.Conclusions: Our findings highlight CXCL۱۲, CXCL۱۷, IL-۱b and IL-۱Ra as markers of immune dysregulation in COVID-۱۹

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-۲ , chemokine , gene , Real-Time PCR