CORRELATION OF IMMUNOLOGICAL MARKERS LEVELS (IL-2Ra, CD107A & FASL) WITH THE SEVERITY OF COVID-19 PATIENTS

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the most severe worldwide crisis;it affects both human lives and the global economy;according to WHO, there are 156,496,592 confirmed cases, including 3,264,143 deaths up to 6 May 2021. The causative agent of COVID-19 is Coronavirus;lymphocyte count has been a marker of interest since the first COVID-19 publication. Lymphopenia is related to the disease severity;many immunological markers such as IL2Rá, CD107a and FasL can affect lymphopenia. To evaluate immunological markers (IL2Rá, CD107a and FasL) in mild and severe COVID-19 patients and correlation with disease severity and lymphopenia. Eighty-eight proofed COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this study, divided into two groups mild and severe according to patients signs and symptoms, their lymphocytes count and immunological markers (IL2Rá, CD107a and FasL) were measured and statistically correlated. In mild patients group the median age 57.7 years ± 12.7 (18-75 years), 25 males and 19 females, male to female ratio were 11, their WBC was 6.44 ± 2.2, ranging from 3.4 to 12.4, the lymphocytes were 2.8 ± 0.71 ranging from 1.6-4.2. In sever group patients the median age 43 years ± 14.4 (26-80 years), 22 males and 22 females, male to female ratio was 1.31 their WBC was 12.1 ± 4.6, ranging from 4.1 to 26.6, Lymphocytes were 1.29 ± 0.69 ranging from 0.3-3.4. There was a significant difference between mild and severe cases for age, WBC and lymphocytes (P<0.05). Gender distribution was not significantly related to disease activity (P>0.05). Lymphopenia was not found in mild cases but 59.1% of severe cases had lymphopenia (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between mild and severe cases for IL2-Ra and CD107 (P<0.005). No significant relation between FasL and disease severity in our specimen. In conclusion, measuring serum levels of IL-2R, CD107a and FasL in COVID-19 patients will serve as a sensitive marker for monitoring patients conditions and provide a suitable tool to verify which patient will develop severe lymphopenia and may need care in the intensive care unit.